English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Photobiomodulation is an emerging area of medical and dental science that has gained attention in numerous clinical fields with the advent of new generational light - emitting diodes (LEDs), as evident in the extent of published scientific literature in recent years. The rationale behind LED - mediated photobiomodulation therapy (LPT) is that at certain biologically active wavelengths, LEDs have shown to have therapeutic effects at the cellular and subcellular levels and are an efficient alternative photon source after lasers, along with their numerous benefits. Subsequent to favourable in-vitro, animal and recently human clinical trials, considerable attention has been garnered towards the promising applications and the integration of LPT with traditional therapeutic protocols, including in orthodontics. Originally started and accepted as a modality in acceleration of tooth movement, pain management and increasing the bone remodelling rate and quality, the advancements in this therapeutic technology have created new avenues in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, root resorption, bone consolidation during maxillary expansion and distraction osteogenesis, as well as for improvement in miniscrew stability. Since it is non-invasive, easy to perform and user friendly with reported efficacy, an established consensus of wavelengths and parameters with respect to guidance for clinical use will go a long way in enabling the successful achievement of numerous objectives. This review article of published research intends to evaluate the adjunctive applications of LPT within orthodontic treatment at several levels along with the underlying mechanism, parameters and reported outcomes. KEY WORDS Photobiomodulation Therapy, Light Emitting Diodes, LED - Mediated Phototherapy, Low Level Light Therapy, NIR-LED, Light Accelerated Orthodontics