Evaluation of LED phototherapy to reduce orthodontic pain: a controlled clinical trial

Abstract

The efficacy of LED phototherapy for reducing orthodontic pain during anterior retraction was evaluated. Fourteen patients (mean age, 15.2 years) underwent extraction of their four first premolars and were randomly divided into LED group (LEDG): seven patients (five males, two females) who performed self-application of Biolux LED device (850 nm, 60 mW, 10.8 J/cm2) daily for 5 min to the maxillary and 5 min to the mandibular arches during the anterior retraction phase and control group (CG): seven patients (five males, two females) who did not use LED therapy. All patients completed a survey for seven consecutive days after every retraction activation for a period of 4 months (T1, T2, T3, and T4) to quantify the pain experienced using a score from 0 to 10. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in pain score between the two groups on days 1 and 2 at T3 and in the overall mean pain score, based on the four surveys, with significantly lower values in the LEDG. Friedman’s test and Tuckey’s post hoc analysis showed a reduction in the pain score for both groups over time, and although the difference was not significant between the groups at T1, T2, or T4, the pain scores were numerically lower in the LEDG than in the CG at all evaluated time points, but mainly during the first 2 days after orthodontic activation. In conclusion, use of the 850-nm LED device after anterior retraction activation resulted in lower pain scores at all time points, indicating that LED therapy should be considered a good alternative to reduce orthodontic pain during the first 2 days postprocedure.