Korean J Orthod.  2022 Nov;52(6):399-411. 10.4041/kjod22.095.

Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in facilitating maxillary expansion using bone-borne hyrax expander: A randomized clinical trial

• Abdelwassie SH
• Amgad Kaddah M
• El-Dakroury AE
• El-Boghdady D
• El-Ghafour MA
• Seifeldin NF

• KMID: 2536333
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4041/kjod22.095

Abstract

Objective
The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to study the skeletal and dental effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) along with a miniscrew-assisted expander (Hyrax) after six months of retention.
Methods
After sequence generation, concealed allocation, and implementation, 24 female patients were randomly divided (1:1) into two-groups: bone-borne rapid palatal expansion (BBE) without LLLT (n = 12) and BBE with LLLT (n = 12). Eligibility criteria included female patients aged 10–13 years old with bilateral posterior crossbites. Intraoral and extraoral photographs, cone-beam computed tomography images, and digital study models were obtained before expansion and six months after retention. The 7 mm Hyrax appliance was anchored to four palatal mini-screws, which were activated twice daily for 15 days, then locked and kept in place as a retainer. LLLT was performed in the laser group during expansion and retention, according to the guidelines provided.
Results
The records of 24 patients were analyzed. According to the post-retention measurements, both groups showed a significant increase in nasal and maxillary widths and total facial height. In the laser group, the Sella-Nasion-Point A and Point A-Nasion-Point B angles and the interpremolar apical distance were significantly increased.
Conclusions
Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that the parameters and protocol of LLLT do not clinically affect the efficiency of BBE in prepubertal and pubertal patients.

Keyword

Expansion; Laser; Miniscrews

Figure

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  Figure 1 Frontal intraoral photograph showing before expansion (A), midline diastema formation after expansion (B), and mesial tilting of the central incisors to close the diastema at the end of the retention phase (C).

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  Figure 2 Palatal occlusal photograph showing the palatal expansion and the midline diastema: before expansion (A), post-expansion (B), and post-retention (C). It also shows the widening of the upper arch after the retention phase.

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  Figure 3 Mini-screw supported bone-borne Hyrax appliance.

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  Figure 4 Application areas of the low-level laser therapy. A, B, Two anterior areas from jackscrew to the canines. C, D, Two posterior areas from the jackscrew to the first molars.

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  Figure 5 CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) flow diagram of the progress through the phases of the current randomized controlled trial.

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