Not for Publication Low-level Laser Therapy in the Management of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Materials and Methods: We performed a single-blind clinical trial on 48 TMD patients. Before treatment, all patients were matched based on gender, pain, and clicking. There were no cases of degenerative joint disease (DJD) or parafunction (eg, bruxism) and the patients were otherwise healthy. The patients were randomly divided into experimental and placebo groups. In the study group, the patients were treated with LLL (980 nm, 80 Hz, 6 J) at three points over the TMJ (ie, 2 J per point and 1.5 J at the other sites of muscle pain) for 1 min. In the placebo group, the laser device was adjusted in the same positions but without power emission. Effectiveness of LLLT for pain and clicking in the groups was evaluated immediately, after 2 days, after 4 days, and then at 6 and 12 months using a visual analogue scale. To compare the magnitude of click, the chi-square test was used, and for pain severity the Mann-Whitney U-test was used to analyze the results. Results: The pain severity after treatment on day 4 in the experimental group was 2.4 ± 1.36, which was significantly less than the placebo group’s results of 4.4 ± 1.84 (p < 0.001). Click reduction was 23.1% in the placebo group and 76.3% in the experimental group. The results were statistically significant for both pain and clicking without recurrence up to the 2-year follow-up period (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Low-level laser therapy (980 nm) was effective in management of TMD signs and symptoms and induced considerable reduction or elimination of pain severity and clicking. LLL applications can be an effective mode of management for selected patients with TMD.