Abstract :
Aim: To appraise the effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF- ?) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and its concordance with rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) if any.
Materials and Methods: A split mouth investigation was done in 16 subjects in whom 150 g of force was used for individual retraction of each maxillary canine. A gallium-aluminum-arsenide diode laser (energy density, 8J/cm 2 ; wavelength, 940nm; power output, 100mW) irradiated only the experimental canine at 10 distinct points. The amount of canine retraction on the two sides was measured and compared. GCF levels of TNF-? was quantified using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: A significant elevation in the levels of TNF-? was noted on the experimental side (P
Conclusion: The application of LLLT in conjunction with optimum orthodontic force accelerated the rate of OTM and elevated the GCF levels of TNF- ?.
Keyword :
Tumor Necrosis Factor; Gingival Crevicular Fluid; LLLT; ELISA.