title: Lasertherapy efficacy in temporomandibular disorders: control study.
abstract: Temporomandibular dysfunction is characterized by the presence of painful joint/muscular symptoms muscle in the face. The main justification for the use of lasers in laser therapy dysfunction is its analgesic effect, which was observed in most studies in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effectiveness of laser therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 volunteers with temporomandibular disorders were divided into two groups (control and experimental) had amplitudes of movements of mouth opening, right and left laterality recorded before and after laser application. Was also recorded, the score the individual gave to pain by visual analog scale and, through physical examination, the pain points. We used the AsGaAl laser with a 40mW power, with 80J/cm(2) for 16 seconds at four selected points for just one session with reassessment after a week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was noted that laser therapy increased the mean amplitude of mandibular movements (p = 0.0317) and decreased significantly (43.6%) the pain intensity measured by the visual analog scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The laser decreases the painful symptoms of the patient after application through its analgesic and/or a placebo effect.
authors.affiliation: Brazilian College of Maxillofacial Surgery, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago de Santana
authors.initials: Tde S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Marta Rabello
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Maria Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Antonio Azoubel
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Auremir Rocha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Emanuel Dias de Oliveira E
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome