Photobiomodulation and Pain Reduction in Patients Requiring Orthodontic Band Application: Randomized Clinical Trial
Maria Francesca Sfondrini, Marina Vitale, Antônio Luiz Barbosa Pinheiro, Paola Gandini, Lorenzo Sorrentino, Ugo Matteo Iarussi, Andrea Scribante
Abstract
Purpose . The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Photobiomodulation (PBM) in managing orthodontic pain intensity over time in patients requiring band application on upper first molars. Methods . Maxillary first molars were banded. In the trial group, each molar received single‐session PBM on two buccal and two palatal points ( λ = 830 ± 10 nm; 150 mW, 7.5 J/cm 2 ; spot of 0.1 cm 2 ; 5 sec per point), while the control group received a placebo treatment. All patients were asked to answer five pain rating scales to assess pain intensity at 5 minutes and 1, 12, 24, and 72 hours and completed a survey describing the type of pain and its temporal course in the next 7 days. Results . 26 patients (mean age 11.8 years) were randomly assigned to a control or a trial group. The trial group showed significantly lower pain intensities ( p < 0.05) at 5 min ( M = 0.92, SD = 1.32), 1 h ( M = 0.77, SD = 1.01), and 12 h ( M = 0.77, SD = 1.54) after band application compared to the control group (5 min: M = 1.62, SD = 1.26; 1 h: M = 1.77, SD = 1.92; and 12 h: M = 1.77, SD = 2.17), whereas no difference between groups ( p > 0.05) was found at 24 h (trial: M = 0.62, SD = 1.71; control: M = 1.08, SD = 1.75) and 72 h (trial: M = 0.31, SD = 0.75; control: M = 0.15, SD = 0.55). Patients in the control group reported more frequently the presence of “compressive pain” (58.8%, p < 0.05) from the appliance during the week after the application, while the trial group showed higher frequency of “no pain” (46.2%, p < 0.05). However, PBM did not affect the pain onset (trial: M = 10.86, SD = 26.97; control: M = 5.25, SD = 7.86), peak (trial: M = 15.86, SD = 26.29; control: 6.17, SD = 7.96), and end time (trial: 39.57, SD = 31.33; control: M = 22.02, SD = 25.42) reported by the two groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusions . PBM might be considered a promising alternative to decrease general pain intensity, although not affecting the typical pain cycle, in terms of the onset, peak, and ending times.