Effects of Corticopuncture(CP) and Low-level Laser therapy(LLLT) on Tooth Movement and Gene Expression

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Peroxiredoxin-1 (PRX1), glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1), type I collagen (COL1) and the rate of tooth movement comparing 3 accelerated tooth movement (ATM).
Methods: Corticopuncture (CP), Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and combined technique (CP+LLLT) on days 1, 3, 7 and 14. Orthodontic tooth movement was induced in 27 male Wistar rats. CP procedure included 3 perforations: 2 in palate and 1 mesial to molars. GaAlAs diode laser was performed every other day for 14 days (810 nm, 100 mW, 15 s). Gingival tissue was collected and qPCR to isolate and quantify mRNA levels.
Results: All ATM groups showed increase tooth displacement compared to control after 14 days (20%-LLLT; 40%-CP and 60%-CP+LLLT). Regarding VEGF expression, LLLT showed higher expression on days 1, 3 and 7. CP+LLLT and CP showed more expression of VEGF on days 3 and 7 compared to control. LLL Irradiation had a positive impact on the level of PRX1 on days 1 and 3 on groups LLLT and CP+LLLT, which was maintained for the LLLT group on day 7. Although all intervention groups showed more in GLUT expression on day 1 compared to control, it significantly increased on day 3 on LLLT, followed by CP+LLLT and CP. No difference was found on the levels of VEGF, PRX1, and GLUT between them on day 14. Only COL1 expression was significantly high on LLLT group compared to the others.
Conclusions: All ATM methods showed higher expression of all genes than the control group. LLLT and CP+LLLT groups had more expression related to angiogenesis, glucose uptake, oxidative stress, and collagen synthesis.