The use of low level laser therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Review of the literature
Herranz-Aparicio J, Vázquez-Delgado E, Arnabat-Domínguez J, España-Tost A, Gay-Escoda C
Medicina oral, patologia oral y cirugia bucal · 36 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Systematic review (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2013-01-01 · Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal · vol. 18 · issue 4 · pp. e603–e612
- Publisher
- Medicina Oral S.L.
- Cited
- 66 citations · more than 93% of similar papers · 3.9× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 26 works
- Access
- Open access (free to publish)
- Research areas
- Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine · Temporomandibular Joint Disorders · Medical and Biological Ozone Research
- Keywords
- Medicine, Low level laser therapy, MEDLINE, Laser therapy, Evidence-based medicine, Temporomandibular joint, Scientific evidence, Intervention (counseling), Alternative medicine, Physical therapy, Dentistry, Pathology, Psychiatry, Laser
- MeSH
- humans, temporomandibular joint disorders, low-level light therapy
5 authors
From ES, US, AT, IT, PT
- J. Herranz-AparicioUniversitat de Barcelona
- Eduardo Vázquez-DelgadoUniversitat de Barcelona
- Josep Arnabat‐DomínguezInstitut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge; Laser Operations (United States); Hospital Quirón Teknon
- Antonio Jesús España-TostImplant Sciences (United States); Hospital Quirón Teknon; Akademie für orale Implantologie; Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology; Instituto de Implantologia
- Cosme Gay‐EscodaInstitut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge; Laser Operations (United States); Hospital Quirón Teknon
Abstract
Introduction
The temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been identified as the most important cause of pain in the facial region. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has demonstrated to have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and biostimulating effects. The LLLT is a noninvasive, quick and safe, non-pharmaceutical intervention that may be beneficial for patients with TMDs. However the clinical efficiency of LLLT in the treatment of this kind of disorders is controversial.
Objectives
Literature review in reference to the use of LLLT in the treatment of TMDs, considering the scientific evidence level of the published studies.
Material and methods
A MEDLINE and COCHRANE database search was made for articles. The keywords used were "temporomandibular disorders" and "low level laser therapy" or "phototherapy" and by means of the Boolean operator "AND". The search provided a bank of 35 articles, and 16 relevant articles were selected to this review. These articles were critically analyzed and classified according to their level of scientific evidence. This analysis produced 3 literature review articles and 13 are clinical trials. The SORT criteria (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy) was used to classify the articles.
Results
Only one article presented an evidence level 1, twelve presented an evidence level 2, and three presented an evidence level 3. According to the principle of evidence-based dentistry, currently there is a scientific evidence level B in favor of using LLLT for treatment of TMDs.
Discussion and conclusions
Publications on the use of LLLT for treatment of TMDs are limited making difficult to compare the different studies due to the great variability of the studied variables and the selected laser parameters. The great majority of the studies concluded that the results should be taken with caution due to the methodological limitations.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
Community trust
Loading…
How much do you trust this study's findings?
Comments
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inSomething wrong here?
Flag this study if its information, labels or funding look wrong. An editor reviews every flag.
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inEducational information about published research. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to start or stop anything.