Objective: To assess if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) enhances the efficiency of orthodontic dental alignment. Background: There is no evidence of the effect of LLLT on the orthodontic treatment time from randomized clinical trials. Methods: Thirty-six subjects were included in this interventional pilot study and randomly assigned for treatment with fixed appliance and LLLT (test group) or with fixed appliance only (control group). A single monthly administration of LLLT was performed intraorally using a Diode laser (980 nm, 1 W, continuous wave, total energy density = 150 J/cm²; Doctor Smile–Lambda Spa). The date of brackets bonding (T1) and the date of complete resolution of dental crowding (T2) were recorded. The alignment treatment time was defined in days as T2 − T1. The number of monthly scheduled control visits was also recorded. Treatment time duration was assessed in both groups with the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) Test for survival analysis. Mann–Whitney U tests was used to compare the number of control visits from T1 to T2 between the two groups. Results: Patients' age, sex, and amount of crowding were equally distributed between the two groups. The alignment treatment time was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the tested group (211.8 days) compared to the control (284.1 days). Consequently, control visits (p < 0.001) were lower in the test group (7 visits, median value) compared to the control group (9.5 visits, median value). Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the administration of LLLT might significantly increase the efficiency of orthodontic treatment during dental alignment.

Aim. Endosseous implants are widely used to replace missing teeth but mucositis and peri-implantitis are the most frequent long-term complications related with dental implants. Removing all bacterial deposits on contaminated implant surface is very difficult due to implant surface morphology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bactericidal potential of photodynamic therapy by using a new high level laser irradiation protocol associated with hydrogen peroxide in peri-implantitis.Materials and Methods. 10 patients affected by peri-implantitis were selected for this study. Medical history, photographic documentation, periodontal examination, and periapical radiographs were collected at baseline and 6 months after surgery. Microbiological analysis was performed with PCR Real Time. Each patient underwent nonsurgical periodontal therapy and surgery combined with photodynamic therapy according to High Level Laser Therapy protocol.Results. All peri-implant pockets were treated successfully, without having any complication and not showing significant differences in results. All clinical parameters showed an improvement, with a decrease of Plaque Index (average decrease of 65%, range 23–86%), bleeding on probing (average decrease of 66%, range 26–80%), and probing depth (average decrease of 1,6 mm, range 0,46–2,6 mm). Periapical radiographs at 6 months after surgery showed a complete radiographic filling of peri-implant defect around implants treated. Results showed a decrease of total bacterial count and of all bacterial species, except forEikenella corrodens, 6 months after surgery.Conclusion. Photodynamic therapy using HLLT appears to be a good adjunct to surgical treatment of peri-implantitis.

Objective: To assess if photobiomodulation (PBM) improves the efficiency of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance during the alignment stage. Methods: Eighty-nine subjects were included in this trial and randomly assigned for treatment with fixed appliance and PBM group or with fixed appliance only (control group). Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age between 13 and 30 years, (2) permanent dentition, (3) class I malocclusion, (4) lower 6–6 mild crowding measured on dental cast, (5) no spaces or diastema in the lower arch, (6) no ectopic teeth, (7) nonextractive treatment plan, and (8) no previous orthodontic treatment. PBM was administered in the PBM group every 14 days using the ATP38 ^® (Biotech Dental, Allée de Craponne, Salon de Provence, France) (72 J/cm ² of fluency for each session). Dental alignment was assessed by visual inspection, and treatment time was defined in days as T2 (date of assessment of complete dental alignment)–T1 (date of brackets bonding). The number of monthly scheduled appointments was also recorded. All the data underwent statistical analysis for comparison between groups. Results: Treatment time was significantly shorter ( p < 0.001) in the PBM group (203 days) compared with the control (260 days). Consequently, control visits ( p < 0.001) were lower in the PBM group (7) compared with the control group (9). Conclusions: The present findings would confirm that PBM can be used to enhance the efficiency of orthodontic treatment during dental decrowding.