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Introduction <p>Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a common cause of non-dental orofacial pain associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, pain, and restricted mandibular movement.</p> Aim <p>To evaluate treatment-associated clinical outcomes of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in acute and chronic TMDs.</p> Materials and Methods <p>This prospective pre–post cohort study included 30 adults (18–50&#xa0;years) diagnosed with myogenous TMD according to DC/TMD (2014) criteria and categorised into acute (&lt; 6&#xa0;months) and chronic (≥ 6&#xa0;months) groups. LLLT (940&#xa0;nm diode laser) was applied at five periarticular temporomandibular joint points twice weekly for 6&#xa0;weeks (12 sessions). Pain intensity using visual analogue scale (VAS), maximal mouth opening (MIO), and tender point count were assessed at baseline and 2&#xa0;days after treatment completion. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann–Whitney U tests, with rank-based effect size estimation.</p> Results <p>Pain scores decreased from 7.53 ± 0.99 to 1.47 ± 0.64 in the acute group and from 4.13 ± 0.74 to 2.27 ± 0.59 in the chronic group (p &lt; 0.001). MIO increased from 20.80 ± 3.42&#xa0;mm to 35.13 ± 1.76&#xa0;mm and from 26.80 ± 2.27&#xa0;mm to 34.13 ± 2.53&#xa0;mm, respectively, with a significant reduction in tender points (p &lt; 0.001). Greater treatment-associated improvement was observed in the acute group (r&#xa0;≈&#xa0;0.84–0.90). However, baseline subgroup differences, including age, limit direct intergroup comparison.</p> Conclusion <p>LLLT was associated with statistically significant and potentially clinically meaningful improvements in pain, mouth opening, and tenderness in myogenous TMD, particularly in acute presentations. However, the uncontrolled study design, baseline subgroup differences, and absence of a control or sham group limit causal interpretation. Behavioural advice may also have contributed to symptom improvement. Further randomized sham-controlled studies are required.</p>

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Low-Level Laser Therapy in Acute and Chronic Temporomandibular Disorders: A Pilot Exploratory Study of Treatment-Associated Clinical Improvements

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月14日

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  • Fatima Jamil Pasha,
  • Sanyog Pathak,
  • Rajesh B. Dhirawani,
  • Sumit Asrani,
  • Harshit Shrivastava

摘要

Introduction

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a common cause of non-dental orofacial pain associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, pain, and restricted mandibular movement.

Aim

To evaluate treatment-associated clinical outcomes of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in acute and chronic TMDs.

Materials and Methods

This prospective pre–post cohort study included 30 adults (18–50 years) diagnosed with myogenous TMD according to DC/TMD (2014) criteria and categorised into acute (< 6 months) and chronic (≥ 6 months) groups. LLLT (940 nm diode laser) was applied at five periarticular temporomandibular joint points twice weekly for 6 weeks (12 sessions). Pain intensity using visual analogue scale (VAS), maximal mouth opening (MIO), and tender point count were assessed at baseline and 2 days after treatment completion. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann–Whitney U tests, with rank-based effect size estimation.

Results

Pain scores decreased from 7.53 ± 0.99 to 1.47 ± 0.64 in the acute group and from 4.13 ± 0.74 to 2.27 ± 0.59 in the chronic group (p < 0.001). MIO increased from 20.80 ± 3.42 mm to 35.13 ± 1.76 mm and from 26.80 ± 2.27 mm to 34.13 ± 2.53 mm, respectively, with a significant reduction in tender points (p < 0.001). Greater treatment-associated improvement was observed in the acute group (r ≈ 0.84–0.90). However, baseline subgroup differences, including age, limit direct intergroup comparison.

Conclusion

LLLT was associated with statistically significant and potentially clinically meaningful improvements in pain, mouth opening, and tenderness in myogenous TMD, particularly in acute presentations. However, the uncontrolled study design, baseline subgroup differences, and absence of a control or sham group limit causal interpretation. Behavioural advice may also have contributed to symptom improvement. Further randomized sham-controlled studies are required.