Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Effectiveness of photobiomodulation with low-level lasers on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement: an umbrella review

Evidence-Based Dentistry volume 26, pages 113–114 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Introduction

Photobiomodulation (PBM) with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive method for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Several systematic reviews (SRs) have assessed the effectiveness of LLLT on OTM acceleration. However, the interpretations and analysis of the findings of these SRs are inconclusive and inconsistent due to the substantial heterogeneity of their results, mainly due to the wide variety of parameters employed in the primary studies. This umbrella review (UR) aims to (i) Evaluate and summarize the findings of SRs evaluating the effect of LLLT on OTM acceleration. (ii) Suggest an evidence-based protocol with the most predictable application LLLT parameters for OTM acceleration.

Methods

Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception to December 2023. AMSTAR-2 and ROBIS were used to evaluate methodological quality and risk of bias respectively.

Results

Six SRs met the inclusion criteria. All the SRs suggest that PBM with LLLT tends to be effective in accelerating OTM. However, the high heterogeneity of SRs hinders a precise evaluation of the LLLT’s effect on OTM acceleration. The parameters most associated with OTM acceleration are LLLT frequency: At least twice a month, irradiation points: 4-10 points, irradiation time per point: 3–50 s, output power: 20–150 mW, energy density: 5.3 J/cm2 and wavelength range:780–810 nm. The risk of bias assessment identified that 50% of the included SR had a risk of bias ranging from uncertain to high. Similarly, three SRs obtained a “Critically low-quality” assessment.

Conclusions

Although, all the SRs included in this UR suggest that LLLT may accelerate OTM in comparison to control groups. The primary goal of future studies examining the influence of LLLT on the acceleration of OTM should be to create standardised protocols for the use of LLLT, allowing the development of more predictable therapies. The research protocol was registered on the Prospero CRD42024497420.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: PRISMA Flow Chart.
Fig. 2: AMSTAR 2 - Methodological assesment.
Fig. 3: Effective LLLT parameters.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article.

References

  1. Grajales M, Ríos-Osorio N, Jimenez-Peña O, Mendez-Sanchez J, Sanchez-Fajardo K, García-Perdomo HA. Effectiveness of photobiomodulation with low-level lasers on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of split-mouth randomised clinical trials. Lasers Med Sci. 2023;38:200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Li Y, Jacox LA, Little SH, Ko CC. Orthodontic tooth movement: the biology and clinical implications. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2018;34:207–14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Tsichlaki A, Chin SY, Pandis N, Fleming PS. How long does treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances last? A systematic review. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2016;149:308–18.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Tam SY, Tam VCW, Ramkumar S, Khaw ML, Law HKW, Lee SWY. Review on the cellular mechanisms of low-level laser therapy use in oncology. Front Oncol. 2020;10:1255.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Rola P, Włodarczak S, Lesiak M, Doroszko A, Włodarczak A. Changes in cell biology under the influence of low-level laser therapy. Photonics. 2022;9:502.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chintavalakorn R, Saengfai NN, Sipiyaruk K. The protocol of low-level laser therapy in orthodontic practice: a scoping review of literature. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2022;12:267–86.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Sousa MV, Scanavini MA, Sannomiya EK, Velasco LG, Angelieri F. Influence of low-level laser on the speed of orthodontic movement. Photomed Laser Surg. 2011;29:191–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jedliński M, Romeo U, Del Vecchio A, Palaia G, Galluccio G. Comparison of the effects of photobiomodulation with different lasers on orthodontic movement and reduction of the treatment time with fixed appliances in novel scientific reports: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020;38:455–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Domínguez Camacho A, Montoya Guzmán D, Velásquez Cujar SA. Effective wavelength range in photobiomodulation for tooth movement acceleration in orthodontics: a systematic review. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020;38:581–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. AlShahrani I, Togoo RA, Hosmani J, Alhaizaey A. Photobiomodulation in acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2019;47:102220.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ge MK, He WL, Chen J, Wen C, Yin X, Hu ZA, et al. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy for accelerating tooth movement during orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2015;30:1609–18.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. 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:S94–S100.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Long H, Zhou Y, Xue J, Liao L, Ye N, Jian F, et al. The effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement: a meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2015;30:1161–70.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Aromataris E, Fernandez R, Godfrey CM, Holly C, Khalil H, Tungpunkom P. Summarizing systematic reviews: methodological development, conduct and reporting of an umbrella review approach. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2015;13:132–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Thomson K, Bambra C, McNamara C, Huijts T, Todd A. The effects of public health policies on population health and health inequalities in European welfare states: protocol for an umbrella review. Syst Rev. 2016;5:57.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Shea BJ, Reeves BC, Wells G, Thuku M, Hamel C, Moran J, et al. AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ. 2017;358:j4008.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Whiting P, Savović J, Higgins JP, Caldwell DM, Reeves BC, Shea B, et al. ROBIS group. ROBIS: A new tool to assess risk of bias in systematic reviews was developed. J Clin Epidemiol. 2016;69:225–34.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, et al. (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.5 (updated August 2024). Cochrane. 2024. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.

  19. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Zheng DH, Du YQ, Zhang QQ, Hou FC, Niu SQ, Zang YJ, et al. Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic dental alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2023;38:184.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. de Almeida VL, de Andrade Gois VL, Andrade RN, Cesar CP, de Albuquerque-Junior RL, de Mello Rode S, et al. Efficiency of low-level laser therapy within induced dental movement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2016;158:258–66.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Huang T, Wang Z, Li J. Efficiency of photobiomodulation on accelerating the tooth movement in the alignment phase of orthodontic treatment-A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon. 2023;9:e13220.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Olmedo-Hernández OL, Mota-Rodríguez AN, Torres-Rosas R, Argueta-Figueroa L. Effect of the photobiomodulation for acceleration of the orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2022;37:2323–41.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Baghizadeh Fini M, Olyaee P, Homayouni A. The effect of low-level laser therapy on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement. J Lasers Med Sci. 2020;11:204–11.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Sousa MV, Pinzan A, Consolaro A, Henriques JF, de Freitas MR. Systematic literature review: influence of low-level laser on orthodontic movement and pain control in humans. Photomed Laser Surg. 2014;32:592–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Farsaii A, Al-Jewair T. Insufficient evidence supports the use of low-level laser therapy to accelerate tooth movement, prevent orthodontic relapse, and modulate acute pain during orthodontic treatment. J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2017;17:262–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Reis CLB, de Souza Furtado TC, Mendes WD, Matsumoto MAN, Alves SYF, Stuani MBS, et al. Photobiomodulation impacts the levels of inflammatory mediators during orthodontic tooth movement? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2022;37:771–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Cronshaw M, Parker S, Anagnostaki E, Lynch E. Systematic review of orthodontic treatment management with photobiomodulation therapy. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019;37:862–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Jnaneshwar PR, Venkatesan K, Prince T, Pethuraj V, Rajaram K, Bhat S. Assessment of the effect of frequency of low-level laser therapy exposure at different intervals on orthodontic tooth movement - A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthod Sci. 2023;12:14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Imani MM, Golshah A, Safari-Faramani R, Sadeghi M. Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic movement of human canine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Acta Inform Med. 2018;26:139–43.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Figueiredo Deana N, Alves N, Sandoval P. Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Oral Res. 2019;8:416–32.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Bakdach WMM, Hadad R. Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in accelerating the orthodontic tooth movement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dent Med Probl. 2020;57:73–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Papatheodorou SI, Evangelou E. Umbrella reviews: what they are and why we need them. Methods Mol Biol. 2022;2345:135–46.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Schlesinger S, Schwingshackl L, Neuenschwander M, Barbaresko J. A critical reflection on the grading of the certainty of evidence in umbrella reviews. Eur J Epidemiol. 2019;34:889–90.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Sandoval P, Bizcar B, Navarro P, Knösel M. Efficacy of diode laser therapy in acceleration of orthodontic space closure: a split-mouth randomized clinical trial. Int J Dent Oral Health. 2017;3:1–6.

  36. Doshi-Mehta G, Bhad-Patil WA. Efficacy of low-intensity laser therapy in reducing treatment time and orthodontic pain: a clinical investigation. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2012;141:289–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Üretürk SE, Saraç M, Fıratlı S, Can ŞB, Güven Y, Fıratlı E. The effect of low-level laser therapy on tooth movement during canine distalization. Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32:757–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Impellizzeri A, Horodynski M, Fusco R, Palaia G, Polimeni A, Romeo U, et al. Photobiomodulation therapy on orthodontic movement: analysis of preliminary studies with a new protocol. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:3547.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Qamruddin I, Alam MK, Mahroof V, Fida M, Khamis MF, Husein A. Effects of low-level laser irradiation on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement and associated pain with self-ligating brackets. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2017;152:622–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Cruz DR, Kohara EK, Ribeiro MS, Wetter NU. Effects of low-intensity laser therapy on the orthodontic movement velocity of human teeth: a preliminary study. Lasers Surg Med. 2004;35:117–20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Yamaguchi M, Hayashi M, Fujita S, Yoshida T, Utsunomiya T, Yamamoto H, et al. Low-energy laser irradiation facilitates the velocity of tooth movement and the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9, cathepsin K, and alpha(v) beta (3) integrin in rats. Eur J Orthod. 2010;32:131–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Yassaei S, Aghili H, Afshari JT, Bagherpour A, Eslami F. Effects of diode laser (980 nm) on orthodontic tooth movement and interleukin 6 levels in gingival crevicular fluid in female subjects. Lasers Med Sci. 2016;31:1751–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Domínguez A, Velásquez SA. Acceleration of dental movement by photobiomodulation: how does it happen? Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2021;39:379–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Varella AM, Revankar AV, Patil AK. Low-level laser therapy increases interleukin-1β in gingival crevicular fluid and enhances the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2018;154:535–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Zheng J, Yang K. Clinical research: low-level laser therapy in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21:324.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Saygun I, Karacay S, Serdar M, Ural AU, Sencimen M, Kurtis B. Effects of laser irradiation on the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and receptor of IGF-1 (IGFBP3) from gingival fibroblasts. Lasers Med Sci. 2008;23:211–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Jose JA, Somaiah S, Muddaiah S, Shetty B, Reddy G, Roopa S. A comparative evaluation of interleukin 1 beta and prostaglandin E2 with and without low-level laser therapy during En masse retraction. Contemp Clin Dent. 2018;9:267–75.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Hadis MA, Zainal SA, Holder MJ, Carroll JD, Cooper PR, Milward MR, et al. The dark art of light measurement: accurate radiometry for low-level light therapy. Lasers Med Sci. 2016;31:789–809.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Ash C, Dubec M, Donne K, Bashford T. Effect of wavelength and beam width on penetration in light-tissue interaction using computational methods. Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32:1909–18.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Karu TI. Multiple roles of cytochrome c oxidase in mammalian cells under the action of red and IR-A radiation. IUBMB Life. 2010;62:607–10.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Huang Y-Y, Chen AC-H, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response. 2009;7:358–83.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Ekizer A, Turker G, Uysal T, Guray E, Tasdemir Z. Light emitting diode mediated photobiomodulation therapy improves orthodontic tooth movement and miniscrew stability: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Lasers Surg Med. 2016;48:936–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Pérignon B, Bandiaky ON, Fromont-Colson C, Renaudin S, Peré M, Badran Z, et al. Effect of 970 nm low-level laser therapy on orthodontic tooth movement during Class II intermaxillary elastics treatment: a RCT. Sci Rep. 2021;11:23226.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Vayshenker I, Li X, Livigni DJ, Scott TR, Cromer CL. NIST measurement services: optical fiber power meter calibrations at NIST. NIST Spec Publ. 2000:250–54.

  55. Caviedes-Bucheli J, Muñoz-Alvear HD, Lopez-Moncayo LF, Narvaez-Hidalgo A, Zambrano-Guerrero L, Gaviño-Orduña JF, et al. Use of scaffolds and regenerative materials for the treatment of immature necrotic permanent teeth with periapical lesion: umbrella review. Int Endod J. 2022;55:967–88.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Gates A, Gates M, Duarte G, Cary M, Becker M, Prediger B, et al. Evaluation of the reliability, usability, and applicability of AMSTAR, AMSTAR 2, and ROBIS: protocol for a descriptive analytic study. Syst Rev. 2018;7:85.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department COC‑CICO, Institución Universitaria Colegios de Colombia UNICOC, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia

    Oscar Mauricio Jiménez-Peña, Nestor Ríos-Osorio & Luz Andrea Velandia-Palacio

  2. Master of Clinical Orthodontics and Maxillary Orthopedics, Universidad Católica de Ávila - ODONTOMASTER, Alicante, Spain

    Oscar Mauricio Jiménez-Peña

  3. University of Granada. Faculty of Dentistry, Granada, Spain

    Gerardo Gómez-Moreno

  4. Laser Dentistry Master Program, European Program, EMDOLA, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Marggie Grajales

Authors
  1. Oscar Mauricio Jiménez-Peña
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nestor Ríos-Osorio
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luz Andrea Velandia-Palacio
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gerardo Gómez-Moreno
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marggie Grajales
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: NR, OMJ, MG. Methodology: NR, OMJ. Search strategy and article selection: NR, OMJ, MG, LAV. Data extraction: NR, OMJ, MG, LAV. Qualitative synthesis: NR, MG, OMJ, LAV. Risk of bias assessment: OMJ, NR, MG, LAV. Formal analysis: OMJ, MG, NR, GG. Writing: NR, OMJ, MG. Supervision of the manuscript: NR, GG.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nestor Ríos-Osorio.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiménez-Peña, O.M., Ríos-Osorio, N., Velandia-Palacio, L.A. et al. Effectiveness of photobiomodulation with low-level lasers on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement: an umbrella review. Evid Based Dent 26, 113–114 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-024-01090-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-024-01090-8

Search

Advanced search

Quick links