Low-level laser therapy effectiveness in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Low-level laser therapy has been suggested as an alternative pain relief therapy in temporomandibular disorder patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of low-level laser therapy on reducing pain intensity in temporomandibular disorder patients, compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Methods A total of 63 patients diagnosed with Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders were divided into two groups. In the first group of 35 patients, low-level laser therapy was applied three times a week, 15 treatment sessions during five weeks (wavelength: 780 nm; power density: 70 mW/ cm2; radiant energy: 4.2 J; energy density: 4.2 J/cm2; total treatment dose: 16.8 J/cm2). The second group included 28 participants subjected to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs therapy (ibuprofen) during two weeks (first three days 3 × 400 mg, remaining time 2 × 400 mg per day). Pain was evaluated using 100 mm visual analog scale, at the baseline, during therapy, two weeks and three months after treatments.

Results Statistically significant reduction of pain intensity was achieved in both low-level laser therapy and in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs therapy groups and remained steady in the follow-up period of three months (p < 0.01). Differences in visual analog scale scores between the observed groups were not statistically significant in each of the evaluation periods, (p = 0.375, p = 0.665, p = 0.52, respectively).

Conclusion The low-level laser therapy protocol applied in this research was efficient in reducing pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Keywords: myofacial pain; pain management; anti-inflammatory agents; visual analog scale