Clinical Efficiency of Nd:YAG Laser in Reducing Orthodontic Pain

Jia Liu1, Cuixia Li1, Jiuhui Yang2, Qiannan Niu1, Wen Qin1, Qiang Li3* and Zuolin Jin1*

1State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, China
2Department of Stomatology, 966 Hospital of PLA, China
3State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of General Dentistry & Emergency, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, China

^*Correspondance to: Qiang Li, 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2761

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment not only improves the malocclusion, but also brings beauty and confidence to patients. However, we can’t ignore the accompanying orthodontic pain that gives rise to the inconvenience to patients. Therefore, the effective method of relieving orthodontic pain has become a hot issue recently. The present study aimed to clinically evaluate whether Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) via Nd:YAG laser could reduce pain caused by orthodontic treatment. One hundred and fifty orthodontic patients who had fixed orthodontic placements in the maxillary arch for the first time were recruited. They were averagely and randomly assigned to the LLLT group, placebo group, and control group. The Nd:YAG laser irradiation was exerted to the buccal and lingual sides of the maxillary teeth of LLLT group every day for the first week. The placebo group had the laser fiber positioned into the mouth at the same areas without laser irradiation. The control group had no laser intervention. All patients received the survey to describe their pain within the period. Also, the Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) was collected to measure the contents of IL-1β, TNF-α and PGE2 by ELISA. The results showed that LLLT did not affect the start of pain perception or the most painful day. However, LLLT significantly ceased the pain sooner. Also, comparing with the placebo group and control group, the patients in the LLLT group had lower mean scores for pain on each day as well as intensity of pain on the most painful day. In addition, the IL-1β, TNF-α and PGE2 levels in GCF decreased significantly by LLLT. Moreover, the patients showed better satisfaction to the LLLT treatment. These results hint us that LLLT could efficiently alleviate the pain and shorten the pain span caused by orthodontic treatment. It also could improve the patients’ acceptance to orthodontic treatment.

Keywords

Low-level laser therapy; Orthodontic treatment; Pain; Visual analog scale; Gingival crevicular fluid

Cite the article

Liu J, Li C, Yang J, Niu Q, Qin W, Li Q, et al. Clinical Efficiency of Nd:YAG Laser in Reducing Orthodontic Pain. Clin Surg. 2020; 5: 2761..