Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27431504›Full record

SynthesisBMC oral health2016

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in accelerating tooth movement, preventing relapse and managing acute pain during orthodontic treatment in humans: a systematic review.

Mikael Sonesson, Emelie De Geer, Jaqueline Subraian, Sofia Petrén

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC oral health, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 25 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
6.0field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05469451 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Effect of Diode Laser (940nm) on Total Relief of Dental Crowding and Pain Perception in Orthodontics: Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)

TypeinterventionalSponsorFundación Universitaria CIEORan2022 to 2022Enrolled50ConditionsLow Level Laser Therapy, Pain, Crowding, ToothArmsLow level laser therapy
NCT05723094 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Stability During Retention Phase After Orthodontic Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversiti Sains MalaysiaRan2022 to 2023Enrolled32ConditionsOrthodontic Retainers, Laser TherapyArmsGa-Al-As diode laser (Ilase, USA), placebo
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.

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  6. Effect of low-level laser therapy on en masse retraction in females with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion : A single-center randomized clinical trial.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Mikael SonessonDepartment of Orthodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Carl Gustavs väg 34, SE-205 06, Malmö, Sweden. Mikael.Sonesson@mah.se.
Emelie De GeerVasternorrland County Council, Sundsvall, Sweden.
Jaqueline SubraianOrebro County Council, Orebro, Sweden.
Sofia PetrénDepartment of Orthodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Carl Gustavs väg 34, SE-205 06, Malmö, Sweden.
Malmö University · SEÖrebro County Council · SERegion Västra Götaland · SE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecently low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been proposed to improve orthodontic treatment. The aims of this systematic review were to investigate the scientific evidence to support applications of LLLT: (a) to accelerate tooth movement, (b) to prevent orthodontic relapse and (c) to modulate acute pain, during treatment with fixed appliances in children and young adults.

methodsTo ensure a systematic literature approach, this systematic review was conducted to Goodman's four step model. Three databases were searched (Medline, Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register and Scitation), using predetermined search terms. The quality of evidence was rated according to the GRADE system.

resultsThe search identified 244 articles, 16 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria: three on acceleration of tooth movement by LLLT and 13 on LLLT modulation of acute pain. No study on LLLT for prevention of relapse was identified. The selected studies reported promising results for LLLT; elevated acceleration of tooth movement and lower pain scores, than controls. With respect to method, there were wide variations in type of laser techniques.

conclusionsThe quality of evidence supporting LLLT to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement is very low and low with respect to modulate acute pain. No studies met the inclusion criteria for evaluating LLLT to limit relapse. The results highlight the need for high quality research, with consistency in study design, to determine whether LLLT can enhance fixed appliance treatment in children and young adults.

Indexed as

Low-Level Light TherapyTooth Movement TechniquesAcute PainAdolescentChildChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMaleRecurrenceYoung AdultLow-level laser therapyOrthodonticsPainRelapseTooth movement

Identifiers

PMID27431504
PMCPMC4948087
OpenAlexW2493277400

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.