Effects of low-intensity laser therapy on the orthodontic movement velocity of human teeth: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
Low-intensity laser therapy (LILT) has been studied in many fields of dentistry, but to our knowledge, this is the first time that its effects on orthodontic movement velocity in humans are investigated.


METHODS
Eleven patients were recruited for this 2-month study. One half of the upper arcade was considered control group (CG) and received mechanical activation of the canine teeth every 30 days. The opposite half received the same mechanical activation and was also irradiated with a diode laser emitting light at 780 nm, during 10 seconds at 20 mW, 5 J/cm2, on 4 days of each month. Data of the biometrical progress of both groups were statistically compared.


RESULTS
All patients showed significant higher acceleration of the retraction of canines on the side treated with LILT when compared to the control.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that LILT does accelerate human teeth movement and could therefore considerably shorten the whole treatment duration.
Cruz
Delma R
DR
Centro de Lasers e Aplicações, Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares--IPEN, São Paulo, Brazil.
Kohara
Eduardo K
EK
Ribeiro
Martha S
MS
Wetter
Niklaus U
NU
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003481:Cuspid / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques