Effect of photobiomodulation on external root resorption during orthodontic tooth movement—a scoping review

Abstract

Orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) is a common phenomenon that occurs as an adverse effect of orthodontic tooth movement. The aim of the scoping review\xa0is to explore and review the literature assessing the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on external root resorption during orthodontic tooth movement. The literature search was carried out on MEDLINE/PubMed database up to and including May 2019. Relevant articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study sample, irradiation parameters, magnitude of applied force, resorption assessment method, and the results obtained in the selected studies were tabulated and evaluated. The search resulted in a total of 178 articles. After removal of duplicates, and matching the articles for the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 articles were selected for detailed assessment. Among all the studies, ten studies have reported a beneficial effect of photobiomodulation in control of orthodontic root resorption. On the other hand, eight studies have showed no significant effect of photobiomodulation on orthodontic root resorption. It can be concluded that the impact of photobiomodulation on orthodontic root resorption remains debatable.