The aim of this study was to assess the effects of low level radiation of Nd:YAG laser on maxillary canine distalization rate. The study was consisted of 14 (9 girls, 5 boys) upper premolar extraction patients aged 15-19 years. After the extraction of teeth, dental arches were aligned. Afterwards canine distalization was performed by 12 mm closed coil spring on 0.016”0.022'' ss arch wire with force of 150 grams. The right canines of the patients were included in laser group and the left canines were included in control group. The roots of canines were separated into two parts both on the vestibular and palatinal sides and each part were irradiated for 10 seconds. Laser application was carried out at the first, second, third and seventh day of canine distalization period. The density of the applied energy at each appointment was 40 J/ cm2. The distalization amounts were defined on dental casts taken just before and at the end of distalization period. Data was analysed on SPSS 10.1 by Mann-Whitney U analysis. Acccording to the statistical analysis, canine distalization rate was higher in the control group. When two groups were compared, the difference between the distalization amounts was not statistically significant (p=.294). Laser biostimulation parameters used in this study did not affect the canine distalization rate significantly. For this purpose further studies using spesific wave lengths with different doses are needed.

Keywords: Canine distalization, Low level laser therapy, Nd:YAG laser