Effect Of Erbium Laser On Pain Experience Following Separation Of Teeth For Orthodontic Treatment - A Split Mouth Prospective Pilot Study

Abstract

Aim :The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the Er ;YSGG laser on pain experience following separation of teeth for orthodontic procedures.

Materials and methods : This split mouth pilot prospective study involved a total of 10 patients in whom separation of permanent lower first molars was performed with elastomeric separators. In Group 1(experimental side) the teeth were subjected to laser exposure and group 2 (control)- no laser exposure. Subjective pain experience at 0,1,2,3,4,and 5 days was recorded using Visual analogue scale. Descriptive statistics, Independent sample t tests were used to compare the mean pain levels between the groups.

Results : In both groups, the intragroup association revealed a significant reduction in pain over 7 days (P value <0.05). For the first three days, the results of an independent t test comparing two separate groups were statistically insignificant, but from day four to day seven, the results were statistically significant, where p value <0.05.

Conclusion :  Spontaneous pain was significantly reduced with a single dose of Er,Cr :Ysgg laser, at 0.25W power which has an effect on reducing separator pain in orthodontic patients.