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NCT Number: NCT05361616

Impact of Photobiomodulation on Pain During Orthodontic Treatment.

The objective of this study is to determine to effect of PBM Ortho, a photobiomodulation device, in adult patients undergoing clear aligners orthodontic treatment. We hypothesize that PBM Ortho will reduced the orthodontic associated pain in the clear aligner patients. This effect will be evaluated by recording the pain on visual analog scale given to the patients before the placement of clear aligners and collecting saliva.

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Key information

Conditions

Malocclusion Orthodontic Treatment Stomatognathic Diseases Tooth Diseases

Age range

20 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Orthodontic Graduate Clinic, Kaye Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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About this study

Pain associated with orthodontic treatment is one of the main causes of treatment discontinuation and patient non-cooperation. Several treatment modalities have been studied to alleviate orthodontic pain which includes pharmacological, mechanical, and behavioral approach. One potential treatment is the application of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy which is a form of light therapy. The objective of this study is to determine to effect of PBM therapy in adult patients undergoing clear aligners orthodontic treatment. This effect will be evaluated by recording the pain on visual analog scale given to the patients before the placement of clear aligners and collecting saliva. The patients will be provided with active PBM Ortho device and sham PBM device (placebo, which will look similar to the active device) to use them at home for one 8 minutes application for 7 days (4 minutes per arch, upper or lower). The pain scale sheets will also be given to the patients to fill them every day for 7 days. The inflammatory protein associated with pain present in the saliva will be collected on Day 1 (24 hours after clear aligner treatment start), Day 4 (fourth day of treatment), and Day 7 (after 1 week from the treatment start). On the last visit, the device and pain scale sheets will be collected from the patients. If successful, this device therapy will reduce the orthodontic associated pain and improve patients' compliance and cooperation.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Systemically healthy male and female patients (age 20 to 65), i.e., do not suffer from systemic illness nor require medication during the saliva collection period.
  • Permanent dentition, with Little's Irregularity Index (LII) of 2 mm or greater for the upper and lower arch.
  • Orthodontic treatment using clear aligners via non-extraction therapy.
  • Patient is available for follow-up visits.
  • Patient is able and willing to comply with the requirements of this trial protocol.
  • Non-smoker with no use of chewing tobacco.
  • Good oral hygiene.
  • Caries free.
  • No sign of periodontal disease.

Exclusion criteria

  • Systemic diseases
  • Medication use for the past 6 months; specially use of anti-inflammatory (e.g., NSAIDs), antiviral, antibiotics.
  • Smoking.
  • Active dental caries.
  • Any periodontal problem including bleeding, tooth mobility, bone loss, attachment loss, deep pockets.
  • Sleep apnea and other airway pathologies.

Treatment and study plan

PBM Ortho

Device

The device will be used by the patients at home for one 8 minutes per day (4 minutes each upper and lower) for 7 days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 0: prior to seating first clear aligner tray

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  2. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 1

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  3. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 2

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  4. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 3

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  5. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 4

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  6. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 5

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  7. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 6

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

  8. Visual analog scale

    Time frame: Day 7

    Study endpoint for effectiveness in decreasing the pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement. Pain intensity will be scored between 0 (no pain) and 10 (worst imaginable pain) on the numeric scale. Pain intensity does not have a unit to describe. The pain intensity will be recorded in both groups at Day 0 (after the placement of the first composite attachments on the teeth but before the seating of the first clear aligner), and then every day for 7 consecutive days.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Saliva analysis

    Time frame: The saliva will be collected on Day 0

    2 ml of saliva samples will be obtained from all the patients enrolled in the study at Day 0, Day 1, Day 4 and Day 7 time points in 15-ml Falcon tubes. The samples will be immediately frozen and stored at -80°C refrigerator until assayed.

    Multiplex immunoassay will be used to analyze target proteins: cortisol, testosterone, alpha amylase, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), substance P (SP), macrophage inflammatory protein-4 (MIP-4), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). ELISA kits for each target protein will be utilized to quantify the protein in the saliva and the unit will be according to the protocol provided in the kit.

  2. Saliva analysis

    Time frame: The saliva will be collected on Day 1

    2 ml of saliva samples will be obtained from all the patients enrolled in the study at Day 0, Day 1, Day 4 and Day 7 time points in 15-ml Falcon tubes. The samples will be immediately frozen and stored at -80°C refrigerator until assayed.

    Multiplex immunoassay will be used to analyze target proteins: cortisol, testosterone, alpha amylase, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), substance P (SP), macrophage inflammatory protein-4 (MIP-4), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). ELISA kits for each target protein will be utilized to quantify the protein in the saliva and the unit will be according to the protocol provided in the kit.

  3. Saliva analysis

    Time frame: The saliva will be collected on Day 4

    2 ml of saliva samples will be obtained from all the patients enrolled in the study at Day 0, Day 1, Day 4 and Day 7 time points in 15-ml Falcon tubes. The samples will be immediately frozen and stored at -80°C refrigerator until assayed.

    Multiplex immunoassay will be used to analyze target proteins: cortisol, testosterone, alpha amylase, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), substance P (SP), macrophage inflammatory protein-4 (MIP-4), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). ELISA kits for each target protein will be utilized to quantify the protein in the saliva and the unit will be according to the protocol provided in the kit.

  4. Saliva analysis

    Time frame: The saliva will be collected on Day 7

    2 ml of saliva samples will be obtained from all the patients enrolled in the study at Day 0, Day 1, Day 4 and Day 7 time points in 15-ml Falcon tubes. The samples will be immediately frozen and stored at -80°C refrigerator until assayed.

    Multiplex immunoassay will be used to analyze target proteins: cortisol, testosterone, alpha amylase, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), substance P (SP), macrophage inflammatory protein-4 (MIP-4), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). ELISA kits for each target protein will be utilized to quantify the protein in the saliva and the unit will be according to the protocol provided in the kit.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

PBM Healing International Limited

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Photobiomodulation on Pain During Orthodontic Treatment

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 4, 2022
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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