Effects of ibuprofen and low-level laser therapy on orthodontic pain by means of the analysis of interleukin 1-beta and substanceP levels in the gingival crevicular fluid.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare the effects of ibuprofen and low-level laser therapy in alleviating orthodontic pain observed after elastomeric separator placement (ESP) by means of the analysis of interleukin 1‑beta (IL-1β) and substance P (SP) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and visual analog scale (VAS). A total of 60subjects requiring ESP for the banding of maxillary first molars were randomly assigned to the ibuprofen, laser, and control groups. The ibuprofen and control groups received, respectively, 400 mg ibuprofen and placebo lactose tablets orally 1 h before ESP; the laser group received asingle low-level laser irradiation session immediately after ESP. GCF samples were collected immediately after ESP (day0) and on days1, 3, and7. Pain intensity was evaluated using the VAS immediately after ESP (baseline) and at hours2 and6, as well as on days1, 3, and7. Although IL-1β levels increased significantly on days1, 3, and7 compared to day0, intergroup comparison results revealed insignificant differences. SP levels indicated insignificant within-group differences. Only the SP levels of the ibuprofen group showed asignificant decrease on days0 and1 compared to the laser and control groups. In all groups, VAS scores increased from baseline to apeak level on day1, followed by asignificant decrease on days3 and7. Intergroup comparison results of VAS scores indicated less pain intensity in the ibuprofen group compared to the control group at baseline. Only the ibuprofen group exhibited significant decreases in SP levels on days0 and1, as well as in VAS scores at baseline.