title: The effect of laser and botulinum toxin in the treatment of myofascial pain and mouth opening: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: This study conducted a randomized clinical trial in 15 patients, who sought care at the Dental Clinic of the University of Passo Fundo, in order to compare the use of low-level laser and botulinum toxin in the treatment of myofascial pain and whether they alter the mouth opening of patients with temporomandibular disorder. The patients were divided into two groups: the Laser group received low-level GaAlAs laser, 100mW of power at a wavelength of 830nm in continuous light emission; and the Toxin group received 30U of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in the first session, and 15U after fifteen days. The assessments were performed by measuring pain with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and mouth opening with a digital caliper. Data were submitted to Student's t test at 5% significance level. Regarding pain symptoms, the results indicate that groups treated with laser and toxin registered 7U in VAS, at day 5 the scores were 4.75 and 4.86U, respectively. The laser worked faster (day 12) at 2.75U, and the group treated with BTX-A registered 2.86U at day 30. Both therapies investigated were effective in reducing pain, but the effect of low-level laser was faster than the use of BTX-A. Both treatments showed no statistically significant improvement in mouth opening.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bethânia Molin Giaretta
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo de Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Kuhn Dall
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca Núbia
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Souza-Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, State University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe de Souza
authors.initials: Fde S
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Sergipe, Brazil. Electronic address: paranhos.lrp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiz Renato
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Paranhos
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Dall
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Magro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014313:Trismus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins
keywords: Botulinum toxin type A; Low-level laser therapy; Myofascial pain