Micro-osteoperforation Versus Photobiomodulation Therapy for Accelerating Maxillary Canine Retraction

Summary

Orthodontic treatment often requires moving the upper canine teeth (the pointed teeth) into the spaces left after removing premolar teeth. This process is usually slow and can take many months, making the total treatment time longer.This study will compare two techniques that may speed up this tooth movement:

Micro-osteoperforation (MOP): A minimally invasive procedure in which a small device is used to create tiny holes in the jawbone near the canine tooth under local anesthesia. These micro-perforations stimulate the bone to remodel faster, which allows the tooth to move more quickly.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) / Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): A painless, non-invasive technique that uses a low-power laser light applied to the gum tissue near the canine tooth. The laser energy stimulates cells in the bone and supporting tissues to accelerate tooth movement without any cutting or drilling.

This trial will randomly assign eligible patients into one of three groups: MOP, LLLT, or a control group receiving standard orthodontic treatment only. Each group will contain 25 participants (75 total). The main goal is to measure and compare how fast the upper canine tooth moves in each group over the first month and until the space is fully closed. The study will also measure the effect of age and sex on the results. The findings will help orthodontists choose the best, fastest, and most comfortable method for each patient to shorten overall treatment time

Conditions

• Malocclusion
• Orthodontic Tooth Movement
• Maxillary Canine Retraction

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Micro-osteoperforation (MOP)

Six micro-osteoperforations of 3 mm depth are created under local anesthesia (2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine) using a PROPEL device or equivalent, with 3 perforations placed mesial and 3 distal to each maxillary canine on the buccal attached gingiva. The procedure is performed at baseline and repeated every 4 weeks until complete extraction space closure. All participants also receive standardized canine retraction using 150 g elastomeric power chain force on 0.019×0.025-inch stainless steel archwires

DEVICE

Photobiomodulation Therapy using 976 nm Diode Laser

A 976 nm diode laser (Woodpecker LX16 Plus or equivalent) is applied in continuous-wave mode at a power of 0.13 W and energy density of 8 J/cm² per point. Irradiation is delivered at 6 mucosal sites per canine (3 buccal, 3 palatal) with the laser tip held perpendicular to the tissue surface at each point. Sessions are performed on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 after each activation, then every 2 weeks until complete extraction space closure. No anesthesia is required. All participants also receive standardized canine retraction using 150 g elastomeric power chain force on 0.019×0.025-inch stainless steel archwires

OTHER

Conventional orthodontic canine retraction

Standard bilateral maxillary canine retraction is performed using a standardized elastomeric power chain force of 150 g on 0.019×0.025-inch stainless steel archwires. Force is recalibrated at each monthly appointment. No adjunctive biological or physical intervention is applied. This arm serves as the active comparator to quantify the absolute acceleration produced by MOP and LLLT relative to conventional mechanics alone.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kufa University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-01

Primary Completion

2027-03-28

Completion

2027-05-28

Countries

• Iraq

Study Locations