Korean J Orthod.  2021 Sep;51(5):313-320. 10.4041/kjod.2021.51.5.313.

Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy and chewing gum in reducing orthodontic pain:  A randomized controlled trial

• Celebi F
• Bicakci AA
• Kelesoglu U

• KMID: 2520371
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2021.51.5.313

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of chewing gum and low-level laser therapy in alleviating orthodontic pain induced by the initial archwire.
Methods
Patients with 3–6 mm maxillary crowding who planned to receive non-extraction orthodontic treatment were recruited for the study. Sixty-three participants (33 females and 30 males) were randomly allocated into three groups: laser, chewing gum, and control. In the laser group, a gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser with a wavelength of 820 nm was used to apply a single dose immediately after orthodontic treatment began. In the chewing gum group, sugar-free gum was chewed three times for 20 minutes— immediately after starting treatment, and at the twenty-fourth and forty-eighth hours of treatment. Pain perception was measured using a visual analog scale at the second, sixth, and twenty-fourth hours, and on the second, third, and seventh days.
Results
There were no statistically significant differences between the groups at any measured time point (p > 0.05). The highest pain scores were detected at the twenty-fourth hour of treatment in all groups.
Conclusions
Within the limitations of the study, we could not detect whether low-level laser therapy and chewing gum had any clinically significant effect on orthodontic pain. Different results may be obtained with a higher number of participants or using lasers with different wavelengths and specifications. Although the study had a sufficient number of participants according to statistical analysis, higher number of participants could have provided more definitive outcomes.

Keyword

Chewing gum; Low-level laser therapy; Pain

Figure

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  Figure 1 Consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) flow diagram of the study.

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  Figure 2 Laser device used in the study. A gallium aluminum arsenide diode laser (CTL-1106MX; Doris, Warsaw, Poland) with 820 nm wavelength was used.

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  Figure 3 Demonstration of laser applied points.

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  Figure 4 Graphical representation of pain levels in the three groups according to time. VAS, visual analog scale.

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