Comparison of low-level laser therapy and standard treatment for temporomandibular disorders: An assessment of therapeutic and placebo effects.

BACKGROUND

Despite extensive research on the use of low-power lasers for TMD treatment, the extent of their effectiveness remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic or placebo effect of LLLT for TMD, and to compare it with standard treatment methods. A unique aspect of this study was the inclusion of a control group that received only standard treatment, allowing for an assessment of the placebo effect of LLLT.

METHODS

A total of 42 patients with TMD were referred to Kerman Dental School Pain Clinic and were randomly assigned to three groups: group A received LLLT, group B was a placebo group and group C was a control group that received only standard treatment. The laser groups received gallium-aluminium-arsenide laser treatment twice a week for 10 sessions. Patients' jaw movement rate indicators and VAS index were evaluated at the start of treatment, and indicators were re-recorded every week for 5 weeks. SPSS 21 was used for statistical analysis, including ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests for inter-group comparisons. The repeated measurement test was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

All groups showed significant improvement in VAS indicators (p = .0001), lateral jaw movements (p = .0001), forward jaw movement (p = .007) but not for maximum mouth opening. No significant difference was observed between the groups at the end of the study (p = .000).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides insights into LLLT's effectiveness for TMD, suggesting it cannot replace standard treatment alone. These findings contribute to the literature and emphasise the importance of including a control group in future studies to assess the placebo effect of LLLT.