This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of laser photobiomodulation (PBM) on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42019121465). An extensive electronic search for randomized control trials and clinical control trials via Medline (via PubMed), The Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register, and Scopus up to date 24/02/2019 was done. Hand searching was performed for relevant journals. Reference articles were retrieved and exported to Mendeley Desktop 1.13.3 software. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of the bias assessment tool. Articles were further analyzed using Revman5.3 software. A total of 14 articles were considered for systematic review and 9 articles were considered for meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed a significant difference between the laser group and conventional orthodontic treatment with Forest plots showing more tooth movement in the laser group compared to the control group in 2–3 months (mean difference = 1.73; CI: 0.9–2.57; p = 0.00001; I² = 89 %). Although the analysis of the results shows that laser PBM favors OTM, the results are inconclusive as the heterogeneity across studies was high. Laser PBM may be considered as novel, safe, and noninvasive adjuvant therapy for the acceleration of OTM in children. Yavagal CM, Matondkar SP, Yavagal PC. Efficacy of Laser Photobiomodulation in Accelerating Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Children: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(S-1):S94–S100.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to compare urinary cotinine levels, nicotine dependence and physical effects related to smoking in smokers before and after laser auricular acupuncture, psychological counselling and a combination of laser treatment with counselling. Methods: This study was carried out from February to July 2019 in India. A total of 60 smokers were randomly allocated to three interventional groups. Urinary cotinine levels, nicotine dependence and physical effects due to smoking were evaluated using NicAlert strips (Nymox Pharmaceutical Corp., Quebec, Canada) the Fagerström questionnaire and a visual analogue scale, respectively, at baseline and one month post-intervention. Pearson’s chi-square, Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance and Wilcoxon sign rank tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: There was a significant reduction in urinary cotinine levels and nicotine dependence and significant improvement in behaviour and physical effects related to smoking in all groups post-intervention (P <0.05). Reduction in nicotine dependence was significantly higher in the laser group (4.4 ± 1.66) compared to other groups (P <0.01). Reduction in urinary cotinine levels was highest in the laser with counselling group (0.85 ± 0.3) compared to the other groups. There was a significant reduction in irritability, headache, craving for smoking, tiredness and anxiety as well as a substantial increase in calmness, unpleasant taste of smoking, the ability to concentrate and appetite in the laser auricular acupuncture group compared to the other groups (P <0.01) Conclusion: Laser auricular acupuncture alone and in combination with psychological counselling can reduce nicotine dependence among smokers.

Photoactivated disinfection with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) has improved primary root canal treatment outcomes. This in vitro study aims to assess and compare the disinfecting efficacy of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite gel, without laser activation and accompanied by laser activation, on Enterococcus faecalis-contaminated primary teeth root canals. After one month of incubating extracted teeth specimens with E. faecalis, 36 specimens were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (conventional method without laser-activated irrigation) and Group B (with laser-activated irrigation). Each group was further divided into three subgroups, with six samples in each subgroup. Subgroup 1 received irrigation with normal saline, Subgroup 2 with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution, and Subgroup 3 with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite gel. Diode laser activation at 810 nm was used in Group B. Bacterial colony counts were measured before and after the intervention. Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post hoc test were used for statistical analysis. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Microbial analysis revealed no bacterial growth in samples irrigated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite gel activated with the laser. Activation with the laser significantly (p = 0.02) improved the disinfection ability of the irrigant compared to the non-activation group. The disinfection ability of sodium hypochlorite gel was better than that of saline (p = 0.02); however, it was comparable to that of sodium hypochlorite solution (p = 0.67). Conclusion: Root canal irrigation with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite gel activated with an 810 nm diode laser resulted in complete eradication of Enterococcus faecalis, indicating its effectiveness as an endodontic disinfection treatment modality.

Ing in reducing nicotine dependence due to smoking. Methods: Smokers (n = 150) fulfilling the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to three interventional groups. Evaluation of the nicotine dependence and physical effects due to smoking were done using Fagerstrom test and Visual Analog Scale, respectively, at baseline and 1 month postintervention. Person's Chi-square, Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for the statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in nicotine dependence (P = 0.00) and physical effects related to smoking (P < 0.05) in all the interventional groups 1 month postintervention. Reduction in Fagerstrom test scores was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in Group 3 (laser acupuncture with psychological counseling) as compared to other groups. There was significant reduction (P < 0.01) in irritability, tiredness, craving, headaches, and significant increase (P < 0.05) in the unpleasant taste due to smoking and ability to concentrate in laser acupuncture with psychological counseling group as compared to other groups. Conclusion: Auricular laser acupuncture with psychological counseling was effective in reducing nicotine dependence due to smoking....

Background: Various techniques have been employed to enhance the root canal disinfection rate using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an irrigant. Photon initiated photo-acoustic streaming using lasers is a newer method of endodontic disinfection. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of photo-initiated photoacoustic streaming and conventional irrigation technique using 2.5% NaOCl for root canal disinfection in primary teeth. Setting and Design: Laboratory setting and ex-vivo design. Materials and Methods: Twenty extracted primary teeth were selected in which Enterococcus faecalis incubation was done in the root canals and bacterial counts were obtained before the intervention. The teeth were randomly allocated into two groups. Group I samples were irrigated with conventional syringe method using 2.5% NaOCl and Group II samples were irrigated using photon-initiated photo-acoustic streaming method with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (wavelength - 2940 nm). Postintervention samples were obtained, and bacterial colony count was done. Wilcoxon Signed- Ranks Test and Mann–Whitney test were applied to test the intragroup and intergroup differences in the bacterial counts. Results: Postintervention results showed no bacterial growth in the canals irrigated using Laser (P = 0.004) whereas, fewer bacterial colonies were observed in NaOCl group (P = 0.005). There was statistically significantly higher reduction in E. faecalis counts in Laser Activated irrigation (LAI) group compared to NaOCl group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Total elimination of E. faecalis counts was obtained by the use of laser activated NaOCl irrigation in the infected root canals, hence, it can be considered as an effective method for pediatric endodontic disinfection.