Low-level laser therapy for treatment of temporomandibular joint pain: a double-blind and placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in a random and double-blind research design.


METHODS
TMJ pain patients, randomly assigned, received 2 to 3 treatments per week for 8 weeks of active LLLT (Helium Neon, 632.8 nm, 30 mW) (n = 26) or sham LLLT (n = 26). Measures of TMJ pain during function were evaluated at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 8 after the first laser therapy.


RESULTS
At the 8-week point, within-group improvements were present for TMJ pain during function, for both the active and sham LLLT groups (P = .000). Between-group differences were not highly evident (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that LLLT is not better than placebo at reducing TMJ pain during function.
Emshoff
Rüdiger
R
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. Ruediger_Emshoff@hotmail.com
Bösch
Renato
R
Pümpel
Eduard
E
Schöning
Harald
H
Strobl
Heinrich
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000532:radiotherapy*