Objective: This randomized controlled clinical study investigated the effect of a 635 nm Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide (Ga-Al-As) laser on pain perception during the leveling and alignment of lower anterior teeth. Subjects and Methods: Twenty eight orthodontic patients, 17 females and 11 males, were randomly selected who underwent leveling and alignment through a non-extraction approach. They were randomly divided according to into two groups: non-laser group and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) group. Both groups utilized the same leveling 0.012 inch Ni-Ti arch wires. The laser group was exposed to Ga-Al-As semiconductor diode laser with 635 nm wavelength, 6.5J/cm 2 energy density, for 10 seconds on 10 points distributed over the labial and lingual aspects of each root of the lower anterior teeth. This was applied immediately after archwire insertion and then at days 3,7,14, 28 of the first month. Each patient was provided with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to record the pain score at 4 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days. Results: In both laser and non-laser groups, there is a statistically non-significant increase of pain measurements at 6 and 24 hours and a non-significant decrease in mean of pain measurements after day 3. Conclusions: The LLLT, with current parameters and protocol, has a negligible effect on pain experienced during initial orthodontic leveling and alignment stage.
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