Relief of pain during orthodontic treatment by laser

Objectives:In this study, pain relief effects by laser irradiation on the mandibular foramen, infraorbital foramen, and maxillary tuberosity areas were evaluated. Method:The subjects were 16 adult orthodontic patients, in whom 8 patients were in the laser irradiation group, and 8 in the control group. At the time of the occurrence of maximum pain, laser irradiation on the bilateral mandibular foramen, infraorbital foramen, and maxillary tuberosity areas was performed in the laser irradiation group, and sham-irradiation was performed on these areas in the control group.A semiconductor laser apparatus (OLS3000, Osada Co., 810 nm, peak power 0.5 mW, irradiation duration 100 seconds per area) was used in this study.The degree of pain was recorded during examinations by percussion before and after laser irradiation, in which the score of the presence of percussion pain was 2, uncomfortable feeling was 1, and absence of both percussion pain and uncomfortable feeling was 0.Statistical evaluation was performed using t-test. Results:Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the degree of pain were noted between before and after laser irradiation in the maxillary right first premolar and left second premolar, and mandibular bilateral first premolars, left canine, right central incisor, right lateral incisor, and left second premolar between the irradiation and control groups. Discussion:The inferior alveolar nerve controlling the mandibular teeth runs in the mandibular foramen, the anterior superior alveolar branch controlling the maxillary anterior teeth runs in the infraorbital canal, the posterior superior alveolar branch controlling the maxillary molars runs in the maxillary tuberosity area, and the middle superior alveolar branch controlling the maxillary premolars branches in the anterior area of the maxillary tuberosity area and the posterior area of the infraorbital canal. Conclusions:Considering our results and the course and branches of these nerves, laser irradiation on the mandibular foramen and maxillary tuberosity areas was effective.