What do systematic reviews say?

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

It is very uncertain whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) changes patient perception of pain and discomfort (VAS 0 to 100 mm) compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Space closure / first visit
  MD -0.4 [-1.87, 1.07]
  1 study · 37 participants
  Very low

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Patient-reported need for analgesics | Not reported
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 and 6 months
  Two studies (62 participants), not pooled. Abellan 2021: no significant difference in molar intrusion at 3 months (1.25 vs 1.72 mm) or 6 months (1.09 vs 1.28 mm), nor rate per month. Hasan 2022: increased intrusion…
  2 studies · 62 participants
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

It is very uncertain whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) changes rate of orthodontic tooth movement during space closure stage… compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Space closure stage
  MD 0.18 [0.10, 0.26]
  1 study · 45 participants
  Very low

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF states harms/side effects Not reported; Ghaffer 2022 (the only LLLT study to assess harms) reported no serious harms other than gingivitis associated with plaque accumulation.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Abellan 2021 assessed periodontal health (plaque index, pocket depth, bleeding on probing) after intrusion of maxillary molars; no evidence of significant difference with LLLT. Statistical test results not published.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

It is very uncertain whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) changes total number of orthodontic appliance adjustment appointments during… compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Alignment stage
  MD -2.25 [-2.52, -1.97]
  2 studies · 125 participants
  Very low

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

It is very uncertain whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) changes duration of orthodontic treatment during alignment stage compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Alignment stage
  MD -48.87 [-56.48, -41.26]
  3 studies · 92 participants
  Very low

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No study reported on the influence of LLLT on the total number of orthodontic appliance adjustment visits to complete a course of treatment.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No study reported on the influence of LLLT on the total overall orthodontic treatment duration.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

It is very uncertain whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) changes rate of orthodontic tooth movement during alignment stage… compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  First month of alignment (also second month)
  MD 1.63 [-2.60, 5.86]
  2 studies · 56 participants
  Very low

Low‐level laser therapy vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment

• Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Abellan 2021 assessed OIIRR using CBCT after intrusion of maxillary molars; no evidence of significant increase or reduction with LLLT. Statistical test results not published.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo (or no irradiation)

Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) showed no clear difference in patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or… compared with placebo (or no irradiation); GRADE not reported.

• Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 hours
  MD -10.63 [-22.33, 1.07]
  2 studies · 118 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  MD -6.39 [-8.65, -4.13]
  1 study · 58 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 to 54 hours · Studies using bespoke pain scales
  Two further studies (160 participants) used bespoke assessments. Harazaki 1997 (84 participants): slightly lower proportion reporting severe pain in the intervention group, no inferential statistics. Turhani 2006 (76…
  2 studies · 160 participants
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo (or no irradiation)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: Not measured.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found