Prospect of relieving pain due to tooth movement during orthodontic treatment utilizing a Ga-Al-As diode laser

Abstract

The effects of low-power laser irradiation on prostaglandin (PG)E2 and interleukin(IL)-1(beta) production in stretched human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells were assessed in vitro. PDL cells derived from healthy premolars were utilized for these experiments. Cells were seeded in flexible-bottom culture plates and elongated (18% increase) under a vacuum at 6 cycles per minute for 1 to 5 days. The stretched cells were irradiated with a Ga-Al-As low-power diode laser (60 mW) once a day for 3 to 10 minutes for 1 to 5 days. PGE2 and IL-1(beta) levels in the medium were measured by radio immunoassay. Human PDL cells showed a marked elevation in PGE2 and IL-1(beta) production in response to mechanical stretching. The increase in PGE2 production was significantly inhibited by laser irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in IL-1(beta) production was also inhibited by laser irradiation, although the inhibition was only partial under this irradiation condition. Since high levels of PGE2 and IL-1(beta) are found in the PDL when teeth are moved during orthodontic treatment and since both factors are involved with the induction of pain, the inhibitory effects of laser irradiation on PGE2 and IL-1(beta) production suggest that laser irradiation may have therapeutic benefits in relieving the pain that accompanies orthodontic treatment.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.