Photobiomodulation and space closure

Abstract

Letter to the editorPhotobiomodulation and space closure A n article published in July 2021 by Al-Shafi et al reported the results of a split-mouth randomized clinical trial to examine the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) mediated photobiomodulation compared with no photobiomodulation on extraction space closure in adolescents and young adults. (Al-Shafi S, Pandis N, Darendeliler MA, Papadopoulou AK. Effect of light-emitting diode-mediated photobiomodulation on extraction space closure in adolescents and young adults: a split-mouth, randomized controlled trial. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2021;160:19-28).The article was informative and praised by most of us but we have come across certain doubts. In the introduction, the authors stated that "The present literature suggests that PBM therapy has the potential to accelerate tooth movement by as much as 30%, 8,13,14 " but none of the articles cited in support of that claim have arrived at the same conclusion.According to the CONSORT 2010 checklist a table showing baseline demographic and clinical characteristics for each group should be included, which was lacking in this article.For contact points, canine rotation, and anchorage measurements, the T0-T3 values for LED and control sides are incorrectly calculated in Table I. For example, at T0 and T3, the LED (A side) contact point distance was 6.31 mm and 2.87 mm, respectively. The difference