title: Comparative Study of the Physiotherapeutic and Drug Protocol and Low-Level Laser Irradiation in the Treatment of Pain Associated with Temporomandibular Dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a structure of the craniofacial complex affected by neurological diseases. Orthopedic and musculoskeletal changes can also cause temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and pain. Low-level laser (LLL) therapy has been studied in the treatment of temporomandibular jaw (TMJ) dysfunction, and controversial results were obtained.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this work was comparing the physiotherapeutic and drug protocol (PDP) to LLL therapy in the treatment of pain associated with TMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 60 female patients, 20-50 years of age, TMD triggering agents (stress, parafunctional habits) controlled, was randomly divided into three groups, group 1 (G1)-LLL (780 nm laser, dose of 35.0 J/cm2, for 20 sec, thrice a week, for 4 weeks); group 2 (G2)-PDP (hot packs thrice a day, morning, afternoon, and evening, for 15 min, exercise of opening and closing the mouth, twice a day, myorelaxing and anti-inflammatory drug administration); and group 3 (G3)-Placebo (450 nm halogen lamp, Max LD Gnatus, light curing unit).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were evaluated every return appointment for the presence (P) or absence (A) of pain for 4 weeks and results were statistically analyzed. First week: 60% of G1, 100% G2, and 70% of G3-related pain. Second week: 55% of G1, 15% of G2, and 100% of G3-related pain. Third week: 10% of G1, 15% of G2, and 85% of G3-related pain. Last week: 0% of G1, 0% of G2, and 100% of G3-related pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on obtained data, we concluded that, compared to PDP, LLL treatment is effective to control pain associated with TMD.
authors.affiliation: 1 UMR 7365 CNRS-Université de Lorraine, Faculté de Médicine, Vandoeuvre-Les-Noucy-France and Postgraduation Department-Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, SP, Brasil .
authors.forename: Marcos Fernando Xisto Braga
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.affiliation: 2 Departamento de Odontologia-DOD, Rio Grande do Norte Federal University , Natal, Brazil .
authors.forename: Uoston Holder
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: 3 Center for Research and Innovation in Laser, Nove de Julho University , São Paulo, SP, Brasil .
authors.forename: Ernesto Cesar Pinto
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Leal-Junior
authors.affiliation: 4 Biomedicine Engineering, Mogi das Cruzes University , Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brasil .
authors.forename: Rodrigo A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lopes-Martins
authors.affiliation: 5 Nove de Julho University , São Paulo, SP, Brasil .
authors.forename: Rodrigo Labat
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.affiliation: 5 Nove de Julho University , São Paulo, SP, Brasil .
authors.forename: Rodney Capp
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pallotta
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti, Italy .
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diomede
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti, Italy .
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trubiani
authors.affiliation: 7 UMR 7365 CNRS-Université de Lorraine , Faculté de Médecine, Vandoeuvre-lés-Nancy, France .
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Isla
authors.affiliation: 8 Cruzeiro do Sul University , São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frigo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: biophotonics; biostimulation; clinical trial; laser medicine; low-level laser therapy; pain management; temporomandibular disorder (TMD)