title: Effect of frequent laser irradiation on orthodontic pain. A single-blind randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on perception of pain after separator placement and compare it with perceptions of control and placebo groups using a frequent irradiation protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients were randomly allocated to a laser group, a light-emitting diode (LED) placebo group, or a control group. Elastomeric separators were placed on the first molars. In the laser and LED groups, first molars were irradiated for 30 seconds every 12 hours for 1 week using a portable device. Pain was marked on a visual analog scale at predetermined intervals. Repeated measure analysis of variance was performed for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain scores of the laser group were significantly lower than those of the control group up to 1 day. The pain scores in the LED group were not significantly different from those of the laser group during the first 6 hours. After that point, the pain scores of the LED group were not significantly different from those of the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequent LLLT decreased the perception of pain to a nonsignificant level throughout the week after separator placement, compared with pain perception in the placebo and control groups. Therefore, LLLT might be an effective method of reducing orthodontic pain.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Clinical Dental Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Tae
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayome
authors.forename: Jun-Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung-Hak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Yoon-Ah
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000528:radiation effects; D010919:Placebos; D012737:Sex Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D010919:Placebos