Clinical and experimental knowledge of photobiomodulation in accelerated orthodontics: a review

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in finding a noninvasive method to induce the acceleration of dental movement, methods such as low intensity vibrations, pulsed electromagnetic fields, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT). There have been multiple studies on the efficacy of LLLT in animal models, in vitro and in patients without conclusive results. Objective: Evaluate the state of the art on the use of LLLT to increase the rate of the orthodontic tooth movement to create a concise reference guide of the different laser and protocols available. Materials and Methods: We searched online databases for articles with the keywords LLLT, LLLI, OTM, photobiomodulation. Results: We found conflicting information as to the efficacy of LLLT to accelerate OTM. There is no consensus in the way the irradiation should be performed. Conclusions: The lack of a standardized irradiation protocol makes it hard to compare conflicting results, even in cases where the laser have the same technical specifications.