title: Histomorphometric evaluation of the effects of various diode lasers and force levels on orthodontic mini screw stability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different laser dose and force levels on the stability of orthodontic mini screws used for anchorage, by histomorphometric analyses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Low-level laser therapy speeds up blood flow, improves the mechanism of the revitalization processes, reduces the risk of infection, boosts metabolic activities, and accelerates the healing of the damaged tissue. Although there are many research studies about low-level laser therapy applications in a variety of areas, no investigations were found concerning mini screw stability using various laser dose levels with different force level applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen New Zealand white rabbits were used. A total of 68 cylindrical, self-drilling orthodontic mini screws were threaded at the fibula. Experimental subjects were divided into six groups; force application was not performed in the first three groups, whereas 150 g of force was applied via nickel-titanium closed-coil springs placed between two mini screws in the other three groups. Measurements of the initial torque values (10 Ncm) were manipulated by a digital portable torque gauge. Various low-level laser doses were applied to the groups during the postoperative 10 days. After 4 weeks, bone-to-implant contact and cortical bone thickness were histomorphometrically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 150 g force plus 20 J/cm(2) dosage group, the highest bone-to-implant contact values were observed. (p<0.05) There were no statistically significant correlations between cortical bone thickness and bone-to-implant contact values; on the other hand, no significant difference was found among the same groups in terms of cortical bone thickness values (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-level laser therapy was noticed to induce the mini screw-bone contact area. Low-level laser therapy may be a supplementary treatment method to increase the stability of the orthodontic mini screw.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Gaziantep University , Gaziantep, Turkey .
authors.forename: Merve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goymen
authors.forename: Eren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isman
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taner
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurkcu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005360:Fibula / Q000601:surgery*; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D009532:Nickel; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011817:Rabbits; D014025:Titanium; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium