Photobiomodulation increases uprighting tooth movement and modulates IL-1β expression during orthodontically bone...

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Orthodontic treatment often involves complex tooth movements like molar uprighting.
• Accelerating orthodontic tooth movement can reduce treatment duration and improve patient outcomes.
• Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a therapeutic light energy application with potential regenerative effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) in accelerating the uprighting movement of inferior molars.
• To evaluate the impact of PBM on pain, medication use, quality of life (OHIP-14), and IL-1β expression during orthodontic treatment.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 34 participants undergoing molar uprighting.
• Participants were divided into two groups: verticalization with PBM (808 nm laser) or verticalization with PBM simulation.
• PBM was applied at specific intervals over three months, with tooth movement and secondary outcomes measured.

Main Results:

• The PBM group demonstrated significantly increased uprighting movement compared to the control group after three months.
• PBM modulated the expression of the cytokine IL-1β, suggesting a role in bone remodeling.
• No significant differences were observed in pain levels, medication use, or OHIP-14 scores between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy accelerates orthodontic tooth movement during inferior molar uprighting.
• The acceleration effect is likely mediated by PBM's modulation of IL-1β expression and subsequent bone remodeling.
• PBM offers a promising adjunctive therapy for reducing orthodontic treatment time without compromising patient comfort.