Laser stimulation of acupuncture points relieved orthodontic separator pain as effectively as local laser treatment, offering a non-invasive alternative to placebo.
Healthy adult volunteers received orthodontic separators to induce pain and were allocated to laser treatment at selected acupuncture points, laser treatment directly near the affected molars, or placebo treatment at acupuncture points. Pain was repeatedly assessed using a modified visual analogue scale, and nonparametric statistical tests compared pain intensity across groups and time.
Both laser approaches reduced pain more effectively than placebo, while laser treatment at acupuncture points produced pain relief comparable to direct local treatment. Pain perceptions did not differ between genders, suggesting that acupuncture-point laser stimulation may provide an equally effective non-invasive approach for orthodontic pain management.
