Effects of ibuprofen and low-level laser therapy on orthodontic pain by means of the analysis of interleukin 1-beta and substance P levels in the gingival crevicular fluid.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare the effects of ibuprofen and low-level laser therapy in alleviating orthodontic pain observed after elastomeric separator placement (ESP) by means of the analysis of interleukin 1‑beta (IL-1β) and substance P (SP) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and visual analog scale (VAS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 subjects requiring ESP for the banding of maxillary first molars were randomly assigned to the ibuprofen, laser, and control groups. The ibuprofen and control groups received, respectively, 400 mg ibuprofen and placebo lactose tablets orally 1 h before ESP; the laser group received a single low-level laser irradiation session immediately after ESP. GCF samples were collected immediately after ESP (day 0) and on days 1, 3, and 7. Pain intensity was evaluated using the VAS immediately after ESP (baseline) and at hours 2 and 6, as well as on days 1, 3, and 7.

RESULTS: Although IL-1β levels increased significantly on days 1, 3, and 7 compared to day 0, intergroup comparison results revealed insignificant differences. SP levels indicated insignificant within-group differences. Only the SP levels of the ibuprofen group showed a significant decrease on days 0 and 1 compared to the laser and control groups. In all groups, VAS scores increased from baseline to a peak level on day 1, followed by a significant decrease on days 3 and 7. Intergroup comparison results of VAS scores indicated less pain intensity in the ibuprofen group compared to the control group at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS: Only the ibuprofen group exhibited significant decreases in SP levels on days 0 and 1, as well as in VAS scores at baseline.