The effects of low-level laser therapy on orthodontically induced root resorption

The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive and/or reparative effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) in rats. Thirty rats were divided into four groups (short-term control (SC), short-term laser (SL), long-term control (LC), long-term laser (LL)). In all groups, the left first molar was moved mesially for 11 days. At the end of this period, the rats in groups SC and SL were killed in order to observe the resorption lacunas and to evaluate whether LLLT had any positive effect on root resorption. The groups LC and LL were remained for a healing period of 14 days in order to observe spontaneous repair of the resorption areas and investigate whether LLLT had reparative effects on root resorption. A Ga-Al-As diode laser (Doris, CTL-1106MX, Warsaw, Poland) with a wavelength of 820 nm was used. In SL group, the first molars were irradiated with the dose of 4.8 J/cm2 (50 mW, 12 s, 0.6 J) on every other day during force application. In LL group, the irradiation period was started on the day of appliance removal and the first molars were irradiated with the dose of 4.8 J/cm2 on every other day for the next 14 days. LLLT significantly increased the number of osteoblasts and fibroblasts, and inflammatory response in SL group in comparison with SC group (P = .001). The amount of resorption did not represent any difference between the two groups (P = .16). In LL group, LLLT significantly increased the number of fibroblasts and decreased the amount of resorption in comparison with LC group (P = .001; P = .02). Both parameters indicating the reparative and the resorptive processes were found to be increased by LLLT applied during orthodontic force load. LLLT applied after termination of the orthodontic force significantly alleyed resorption and enhanced/accelerated the healing of OIIRR. LLLT has significant reparative effects on OIIRR while it is not possible to say that it definitely has a preventive effect.