Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Levels as Potential Biological Markers for Orthodontically Induced Inflammatory Root Resorption in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients Following Laser Irradiation: A Scanning Electron Microscopy and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay-Based Study

Background: Orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) is considered to be a form of pathologic root resorption that is often seen in response to applied orthodontic forces. To date, no direct studies are available in the literature that have evaluated the impact of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on OIIRR and the specific biomarkers associated with it. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of LLLT on OIIRR with dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) levels as the potential biomarkers of OIIRR in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients undergoing orthodontic intrusion. Materials and Methods: This split-mouth study comprised 30 patients who required bilateral maxillary first premolar extractions as part of routine orthodontic treatment, while apically directed forces of magnitude 25 g were applied on both sides, with LLLT application only on the experimental side. Again, the root surfaces were examined for resorption defects (craters) using scanning electron microscopy, while the GCF samples were analyzed for DSPP levels using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results: The results of this study revealed statistically significant differences in the mean DSPP levels when comparing experimental and control sides (0.630 ± 0.353616 ng/µL on experimental vs 1.648 ± 0.805992 ng/µL on control side; P = 0.002) on the 28th day of application of LLLT. Conclusion: It was thus concluded that LLLT can be recommended as a potential therapeutic adjunct to reduce the incidence and severity of OIIRR, while DSPP levels can also be used as potential biological markers indicative of OIIRR in the GCF of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.