Background: Recently low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been proposed to improve orthodontic treatment. The\naims of this systematic review were to investigate the scientific evidence to support applications of LLLT: (a) to\naccelerate tooth movement, (b) to prevent orthodontic relapse and (c) to modulate acute pain, during treatment\nwith fixed appliances in children and young adults.\nMethods: To ensure a systematic literature approach, this systematic review was conducted to Goodman�s four\nstep model. Three databases were searched (Medline, Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register and Scitation),\nusing predetermined search terms. The quality of evidence was rated according to the GRADE system.\nResults: The search identified 244 articles, 16 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria: three on acceleration of tooth\nmovement by LLLT and 13 on LLLT modulation of acute pain. No study on LLLT for prevention of relapse was\nidentified. The selected studies reported promising results for LLLT; elevated acceleration of tooth movement and\nlower pain scores, than controls. With respect to method, there were wide variations in type of laser techniques.\nConclusions: The quality of evidence supporting LLLT to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement is very low and\nlow with respect to modulate acute pain. No studies met the inclusion criteria for evaluating LLLT to limit relapse.\nThe results highlight the need for high quality research, with consistency in study design, to determine whether\nLLLT can enhance fixed appliance treatment in children and young adults.
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