Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Study ID | No. (M/F) | Country | Age in mean ± SD (range) | Study design | Grouping method | Orthodontic treatment | Evaluation method | Evaluation interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eslamian et al. [33] | 37 (12/25) | Iran | 24.97 (11–32) | Split-mouth |
I: N = 37 P: N = 37 |
Separator placement | VAS | Pre-LLLT, 6, 24, and 30 h, day 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 post-LLLT |
| Heravi et al. [34] | 20 (3/17) | Iran | 22.1 ± 5.3 (15–31) | Split-mouth |
I: N = 20 P: N = 20 |
Canine retraction | VAS | Day 0, 4, 7, 11, 15, 28, 32, 35, 39, 43 and 56 (pre-LLLT) |
| Abtahi et al. [35] | 29 (24/5) | Iran | 15.03 (12–22) | Split-mouth |
I: N = 29 P: N = 29 |
Separator placement | VAS | Pre- and post-LLLT for 5 days |
| Artés-Ribas et al. [36] | 20 (6/14) | Spain | 26.4 (19–33.8) | Split-mouth |
I: N = 20 P: N = 20 |
Separator placement | VAS | Pre-LLLT, 5 min, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post-LLLT |
| Domínguez and Velásquez [37] | 59 (19/40) | Colombia | 24.3 ± 3 | Split-mouth |
Self-ligation group I: N = 29, P: N = 29 Straight-wire group I: N = 30, P: N = 30 |
Archwire placement (0.019 × 0.025 in. stainless steel) |
VAS | 2 h, 6 h, 24 h, day 2, 3 and 7 post-LLLT |
| Bicakci et al. [38] | 19 (8/11) | Turkey | 13.9 (13.5–14.5) | Split-mouth |
I: N = 19 P: N = 19 |
Molar band placement | VAS | 5 min, 1 h and 24 h after placement |
| Doshi-Mehta and Bhad-Patil [39] | 20 (8/12) | India | 12–23 | Split-mouth |
I: N = 30 P: N = 30 |
Canine retraction | VAS | Day 1 after placement, Day 3 and 30 |
| Angelieri et al. [40] | 12 | Brazil | 12.66 | Split-mouth |
I: N = 12 P: N = 12 |
Canine retraction | VAS |
12, 24, 48 and 72 h post-LLLT and repeat in the 2nd month |
| Lim et al. [41] | 39 | Singapore | 21-24 | Split-mouth |
15 s group: N = 39 30 s group: N = 39 60 s group: N = 39 P: N = 39 |
Separator placement | VAS | Day 0 (pre-separation, pre-LLLT and post-LLLT); day 2, 3, 4 and 5 (pre-LLLT and post-LLLT) |
| Kim et al. [42] | 88 (23/65) | Korea | 22.7 | Parallel |
I: N = 28 P: N = 30 B: N = 30 |
Separator placement | VAS | 5 min, 1, 6, 12 h and day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 after placement |
| Marini et al. [32] | 120 (64/56) | Italy | 23.01 ± 1.39 | Parallel |
I: N = 40 P: N = 40 B: N = 40 |
Separator placement |
VAS A modified version of Harazaki’s questionnaire |
Immediately and 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h after placement |
| Nobrega et al. [43] | 60 (22/38) | Brazil | 12–26 | Parallel |
I: N = 30 P: N = 30 |
Separator placement | VAS | 2, 6 and 24 h, day 3 and 5 after placement |
| Tortamano et al. [44] | 60 (18/42) | Japan | 15.9 (12–18) | Parallel |
I: N = 20 P: N = 20 B: N = 20 |
Archwire placement (0.014 in. stainless steel) |
VAS Harazaki’s questionnaire |
Over the next 7 days |
| Turhani et al. [45] | 76 (30/46) | Austria | 23.1 | Parallel |
I: N = 38 P: N = 38 |
Archwire placement (0.016 in. stainless steel) |
Self-designed questionnaire | 6, 30 and 54 h after treatment |
No. number of participants, M male, F female, I intervention group, P placebo group, B blank control group, VAS visual analogue scale