High-Intensity 1064 nm Laser Therapy for Temporomandibular Joint Pain: A Prospective Multicenter Study of TriHIL™ Technology.

Background and objective Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are common and can substantially impair quality of life. Conventional treatments are often limited by adverse effects, poor compliance, or lengthy treatment courses. A high-intensity 1064 nm laser system with TriHIL™ technology (BTL Industries, Boston, MA, USA) may offer a noninvasive alternative with a shorter treatment course. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a high-intensity 1064 nm laser system with TriHIL technology in alleviating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction. Methods This prospective, multicenter, single-arm study enrolled 31 adults (28 women and three men; mean age 50.2 ± 14.5 years) with TMJ pain across three clinical sites. Subjects received four 20-minute treatment sessions spaced two to 10 days apart. Pain (Visual Analog Scale, VAS), mandibular range of motion (ROM), and TMD Disability Index (TMD-DI) were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and at one-month and three-month follow-up (1M FU and 3M FU). Treatment tolerability (Therapy Comfort Questionnaire, TCQ) was assessed posttreatment, and patient satisfaction (Subject Satisfaction Questionnaire, SSQ) was assessed at posttreatment and at 1M FU and 3M FU. Results All 31 subjects completed the four-session protocol and all follow-up visits. At 3M FU, mean spontaneous VAS pain decreased from 4.37 ± 2.25 to 1.52 ± 2.11 (a relative reduction of 65.3%, p < 0.001), and VAS during palpation decreased from 5.92 ± 2.35 to 1.87 ± 2.14 (a relative reduction of 68.4%, p < 0.001). TMD-DI scores decreased from 20.6 ± 11.6% to 11.3 ± 13.2% (a relative reduction of 45.3%, p < 0.001). Lateral mandibular ROM improved significantly at all time points (n = 24, +3.2 mm at 3M FU, p = 0.044). Overall, 24 (77.4%) subjects remained satisfied with treatment outcomes at 3M FU. On the TCQ, 30 (96.8%) subjects rated the treatment as comfortable, with a mean intraprocedural pain score of 0.13/10. No device-related adverse events occurred. Conclusions A four-session protocol with the TriHIL technology was associated with substantial and durable reductions in TMJ pain and disability with no device-related adverse events, supporting its use as a noninvasive option for the management of TMJ pain.