Effects of low-level laser therapy and mechanical vibration on orthodontic pain caused by initial archwire

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mechanical vibration and low-level laser therapy on orthodontic pain after placement of the initial archwire.

Sixty subjects with 3-6 mm maxillary dental crowding, a nonextraction fixed treatment plan, and no medical history were included in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups, equally distributed by sex. In each subject, preadjusted edgewise appliances were placed in the maxillary arch from the left first molar to the right first molar, and a 0.014-inch round nickel-titanium archwire was fully engaged with elastomeric ties and cut at the end of first molar bondable tube. In group 1 (mean age 13.98 ± 2.68 y), mechanical vibration was performed 3 times: immediately, 24 hours, and 48 hours after engagement of the initial archwire. In group 2 (mean age 14.86 ± 2.06 y), low-level laser therapy was applied once: immediately after the insertion of the initial archwire. Group 3 (mean age 14.41 ± 1.78 y) served as the control group. Pain scores were determined with the use of a visual analog scale (VAS).

Although no statistically significant differences were found among the groups (P >0.05), the mean VAS scores for the mechanical vibration group were consistently lower than those of the control and low-level laser therapy groups at all measured time points.

The mechanical vibration group had lower, though nonsignificant, VAS scores for all measured time points. Additional clinical trials are recommended for more definitive conclusions.