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Effects of PBM on Fixed-appliance Orthodontic Patients

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) logo

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Root Resorption
Orthodontics

Treatments

Device: photobiomodulation therapy
Other: orthodontic fixed-appliance

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT06199674
PBMRR-HKU-143

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) on the dental and periodontal health of patients undergoing fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment, including orthodontically induced root resorption, orthodontic pain, space closing rate, and dental microbiome profile in dental plaques.

Full description

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) is a non-invasive, adjunctive medical treatment that has promising effects on various dental and oral conditions, including controlling inflammation, promoting wound healing, and relieving pain. While animal studies have explored PBM therapy in orthodontics for accelerating tooth movement, preventing root resorption, alleviating pain, and controlling periodontal inflammation, clinical studies with high-quality evidence remain limited. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to investigate the effects of a portable PBM device on the dental and periodontal health of patients undergoing fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment. This two-arm RCT will be conducted with a triple-blinded and parallel study design in a 1:1 ratio. Fifty orthodontic patients will be recruited at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital following the eligibility criteria from Jan. 2024 to Jan. 2026 (24 months) and evenly distributed to the two arms. Randomization and allocation will be conducted by a statistician who will not participate in the intervention and outcome assessment process using computer software. Participants in the PBM group will be required to wear a PBM device, while those in the control group will receive a sham device with an identical appearance to the PBM device but without light irradiation. All participants must wear their assigned device daily for 8 minutes (4 minutes for the upper and lower dental arches each) after brushing their teeth during the process of fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment. The allocation sequences will be concealed in a batch of opaque envelopes. Patients and the outcome assessor will be blinded to the allocation sequence. This protocol is proposed in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the ICH-Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guideline. The study will be conducted and reported according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guideline. Written consent will be obtained from all subjects.

Enrollment

50 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 35 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  1. Patients aged between 18 and 35 years old with permanent dentition
  2. Patients who undertake orthodontic treatment using fixed appliances
  3. Patients who require extraction of premolars in either their upper or lower dental arch
  4. Patients who have fair oral hygiene habits
  5. Patients who are systemically healthy

Exclusion criteria

  1. Patients with generalized dental caries and severe chronic periodontitis in stages III and IV
  2. Patients with congenital or severe craniofacial anomalies which necessitate orthognathic surgery
  3. Patients with physical or mental impairment, and those who smoke or undertake systemic medications
  4. Patients with current root resorption at any of the teeth
  5. Patients with endodontic treatment and/or large restorations on premolars to be extracted

Trial design

Primary purpose

Prevention

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Triple Blind

50 participants in 2 patient groups

PBM group
Experimental group
Description:
wear PBM device daily during the fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment
Treatment:
Other: orthodontic fixed-appliance
Device: photobiomodulation therapy
Control group
Sham Comparator group
Description:
wear sham device daily during the fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment
Treatment:
Other: orthodontic fixed-appliance

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Central trial contact

Zhiyi Shan

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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