title: Effects of laser vs ultrasound on bone healing after distraction osteogenesis: A histomorphometric analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of low-level laser irradiation vs ultrasound irradiation on bone healing after distraction osteogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distraction osteogenesis was performed with rapid maxillary expansion devices (Hyrax-Morelli, Sorocaba, São Paulo Brazil) in 24 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). After a 2-day latency period, the distraction devices were activated for 10 days at a rate of 1 mm/d. Four groups of six animals were treated as follows: (1) control, (2) laser irradiation on the right side, (3) ultrasound irradiation on the right side, and (4) laser irradiation on the right side and ultrasound on the left side. Histomorphometric analysis was used to assess the bone healing area. Analysis of variance was used to perform the statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The influence of low-intensity laser associated with ultrasound irradiation on bone healing was statistically significant. The analyses showed the greatest amount of bone healing in the jaws of animals in group 4, which received treatment with both ultrasound and laser.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study concluded that bone healing is accelerated with the application of laser irradiation. The greatest effects were observed with combined ultrasound and laser treatment.
authors.affiliation: a  Student, Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Myrla Alves Barros
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: b  Visiting Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonard Euler Andrade Gomes
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: c  Student, Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Visiting Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Chon Leon
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: d  Professor, Department of Clinical and Surgical Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lys Bezerra Barradas
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mineiro
authors.affiliation: e  Professor, Orthodontics Healthy I Department, Southwest Bahia State University, UESB, Jequié, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus Melo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pithon
authors.affiliation: f  Associate Professor of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Franzotti
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D000071556:Cancellous Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Bone healing; Distraction osteogenesis; Histomorphometry, Laser; Rabbits; Ultrasound