Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3168807 | Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology | 2008 | 5 Pages |
ObjectiveThe 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.Study designTMJ 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.ResultsAt 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).ConclusionThe study suggests that LLLT is not better than placebo at reducing TMJ pain during function.