title: Effect of water-soluble titanium microparticle-permeated tape on temporomandibular disorders-related pain: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent research has focused on the applicability of titanium particle-impregnated materials in healthcare and medical products. This preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the effect of water-soluble titanium microparticle-permeated (WSTi) tape on temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-related pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 32 patients (41.5 ± 14.4 years, 26 women) who had visited the Temporomandibular Joint Clinic, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, for treatment of TMD-related pain. The subjects were instructed to apply the WSTi tape (AquaTitan tape) on the most painful area before going to sleep and remove the tape on awakening daily for 2 weeks. Seven outcome variables were statistically analyzed: maximum mouth-opening ranges with and without pain, spontaneous pain intensity, mouth-opening pain intensity, chewing pain intensity, TMD-related limitation of daily functions (LDF-TMD) and subjective evaluation of any change in TMD-related pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean maximum mouth-opening ranges with (p = 0.011) and without (p = 0.002) pain were significantly greater and mean pain intensities on mouth opening (p < 0.001) and chewing (p = 0.001) were significantly lower at the 2-week follow-up than at the baseline. The mean LDF-TMDQ scores were also significantly lower at the 2-week follow-up (p = 0.004). After 2 weeks of using the WSTi tape, 53.1% and 12.5% of the subjects reported a slight improvement and an improvement, respectively, in TMD-related pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WSTi tape seems to have beneficial effects on TMD-related pain and LDF.
authors.affiliation: Section of Temporomandibular Joint and Oral Function, Department of Comprehensive Patient Care, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kino
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukagoshi
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tobe
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Otomo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012995:Solubility; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014025:Titanium; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D014025:Titanium
keywords: analgesia; temporomandibular disorders; visual analog pain scale; water-soluble titanium