Photobiomodulation Effect on Vietnamese Orthodontic Patients

Plain-language summary

Since most orthodontic cases endure for 2 to 3 years or longer, patients are at a high risk of inflammatory root resorption and prolonged orthodontic pain, which is a common and unwanted side effect of their treatment. Photobiomodulation therapy utilizing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offers a non-pharmacological approach for pain management, acceleration of tooth movement, and reduction of root resorption risk. This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effects of LED photobiomodulation on pain alleviation, acceleration of tooth movement, and mitigation of root resorption risk during orthodontic treatment. A total of 16 Vietnamese participants, aged 11 to 30 years, receiving fixed orthodontic treatment were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (LED therapy) or a control group (placebo). Patients were assessed at four consecutive follow-up visits at monthly intervals. Canine movement was measured by superimposing patients' 3D scans collected at the four follow-ups in 3D Slicer. At each visit, their pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to establish the baseline for that follow-up (0 hour), and then measured again at 24 hours and 48 hours post-visit. Furthermore, during each visit, the investigator collected patients' saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) to extract dentin sialoprotein (DSP), a biomarker of root resorption in humans. The primary outcome is the difference in pain assessments between the intervention and control groups, the mobility of canines across groups, and the concentration of dentin sialoprotein in gingival crevicular fluid and saliva.

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