Diode Laser Versus LED for Maxillary Canine Retraction in Orthodontic Patients

September 3, 2026 updated by: Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Comparative Effects of Diode Laser and LED Photobiomodulation on Maxillary Canine Retraction During Orthodontic Treatment

This study aims to compare the effects of diode laser and light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation on maxillary canine retraction during fixed orthodontic treatment. Participants requiring bilateral maxillary first premolar extraction will receive both interventions using a split-mouth design. One maxillary canine will receive diode laser photobiomodulation, while the contralateral maxillary canine will receive LED photobiomodulation.

Maxillary canine movement will be evaluated at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks during retraction to compare the amount and rate of tooth movement between the two interventions. Pain associated with orthodontic tooth movement will also be assessed.

Pulp oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of the maxillary canines will be measured to evaluate changes in pulpal oxygenation during orthodontic canine retraction. SpO₂ will be assessed at baseline and at predefined follow-up time points, including 20 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days, and 4 weeks. Changes in SpO₂ will be compared between the diode laser and LED sides.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) will be used to evaluate changes in maxillary canine root length and alveolar bone dimensions before and after canine retraction.

The study is expected to determine whether diode laser and LED photobiomodulation differ in their effects on orthodontic canine retraction, pulpal oxygenation, pain, and associated dental and alveolar bone changes.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is an interventional split-mouth clinical study comparing diode laser and light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation during maxillary canine retraction in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

After alignment and leveling, maxillary canine retraction will be performed using standardized orthodontic mechanics. Each participant will receive both photobiomodulation interventions. One maxillary canine will receive diode laser photobiomodulation, while the contralateral maxillary canine will receive LED photobiomodulation according to the predefined side-allocation procedure. The interventions will be repeated at 4-week intervals during the 16-week observation period.

Digital intraoral scans will be obtained to quantify maxillary canine movement. Cumulative canine retraction will be assessed at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. The amount and rate of canine retraction will be compared between the diode laser and LED sides within the same participant.

Pulp oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of the maxillary canines will be assessed to evaluate pulpal oxygenation during orthodontic tooth movement. SpO₂ measurements will be obtained separately from the canine receiving diode laser photobiomodulation and the contralateral canine receiving LED photobiomodulation at baseline, 20 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days, and 4 weeks after initiation of canine retraction. Changes from baseline and differences in SpO₂ between the two intervention sides will be evaluated.

Pain associated with orthodontic tooth movement will be assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) after photobiomodulation. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations obtained before and after the canine retraction period will be used to evaluate changes in maxillary canine root length and alveolar bone dimensions.

Because both interventions are administered within the same participant, the split-mouth design allows direct within-participant comparison of diode laser and LED photobiomodulation while reducing the influence of interindividual biological variability.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

34

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with complete permanent dentition and cervical vertebral maturation at CS5 or CS6 according to the Baccetti classification.
  • Angle Class I malocclusion.
  • Indication for fixed orthodontic treatment requiring bilateral extraction of the maxillary first premolars.
  • Similar position, morphology, and dimensions of the maxillary canines on both sides.
  • No previous orthodontic treatment.
  • Willingness to participate in the study and provision of informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with bleeding or coagulation disorders, diabetes mellitus, bone diseases, or periodontal diseases.
  • Use of medications that may affect orthodontic tooth movement or coagulation, including aspirin, heparin, warfarin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or glucocorticoids.
  • History of maxillofacial trauma or craniofacial anomalies.
  • Smoking.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Requirement for extraction of teeth other than the first premolars.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Diode Laser
The maxillary canine allocated to the diode laser side will receive diode laser photobiomodulation during orthodontic canine retraction. Photobiomodulation will be applied according to the study protocol and repeated at 4-week intervals during the 16-week observation period.
Device: Diode Laser Photobiomodulation
Diode laser photobiomodulation at a wavelength of 810 nm will be applied to the maxillary canine during orthodontic retraction. Irradiation will be delivered at 12 points around the canine root, including six points on the buccal side and six points on the palatal side. The root area will be divided into cervical, middle, and apical regions. The laser will be applied for 10 seconds per region, delivering 1 J per region and a total energy of 6 J per tooth. The energy density will be 5.1 J/cm². The intervention will be repeated at 4-week intervals during the 16-week canine retraction period.
Active Comparator: LED
The contralateral maxillary canine allocated to the LED side will receive light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation during orthodontic canine retraction. Photobiomodulation will be applied according to the study protocol and repeated at 4-week intervals during the 16-week observation period.
Device: LED Photobiomodulation
The contralateral maxillary canine will receive light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation during orthodontic canine retraction. LED irradiation will be applied at 12 points around the canine root, including six points on the buccal side and six points on the palatal side. The LED will be applied for 5 seconds at each point, with an energy density of 6 J/cm² and a wavelength range of 430-480 nm. The intervention will be repeated at 4-week intervals during the 16-week canine retraction period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Amount of Maxillary Canine Retraction
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks
The amount of maxillary canine retraction will be measured in millimeters using digital intraoral scans. Canine movement will be assessed by comparing the position of the maxillary canine at baseline and at each follow-up time point. The amount of retraction on the diode laser side will be compared with that on the contralateral LED side within the same participant.
Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity Following Orthodontic Canine Retraction
Time Frame: 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after photobiomodulation
Pain intensity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) following photobiomodulation during orthodontic canine retraction. Participants will record pain separately for the diode laser and LED sides. VAS scores will be compared between the two intervention sides.
1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after photobiomodulation
Change in Maxillary Canine Root Length
Time Frame: Baseline and 16 weeks
Maxillary canine root length will be measured using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess changes in root length associated with orthodontic canine retraction. Changes from baseline will be compared between the diode laser and LED sides.
Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Alveolar Bone Dimensions Around the Maxillary Canine
Time Frame: Baseline and 16 weeks
Alveolar bone dimensions around the maxillary canine will be evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Changes from baseline will be compared between the diode laser and LED sides.
Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Pulp Oxygen Saturation of the Maxillary Canine
Time Frame: Baseline, 20 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days, and 4 weeks after initiation of canine retraction.
Pulp oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of the maxillary canines will be measured to evaluate changes in pulpal oxygenation during orthodontic canine retraction. SpO₂ values will be recorded separately for the maxillary canine receiving diode laser photobiomodulation and the contralateral maxillary canine receiving LED photobiomodulation. Changes from baseline and differences between the two intervention sides will be assessed.
Baseline, 20 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days, and 4 weeks after initiation of canine retraction.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 3, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 3, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 26.442.HV

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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