6533b824fe1ef96bd127ffbb
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The use of low level laser therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders: review of the literature
Judit Herranz-aparicioJosep Arnabat-domínguezCosme Gay-escodaAntoni España-tostEduardo Vázquez-delgadosubject
medicine.medical_specialtyEvidence-based medicinemedicine.medical_treatmentMEDLINEAlternative medicineDentistryOdontologíaRessenyes sistemàtiques (Investigació mèdica)OdontologiaTemporomandibular jointScientific evidenceSystematic reviews (Medical research)medicineHumansLow-Level Light TherapyFacial regionGeneral DentistryLow level laser therapyLàsersOral Medicine and Pathologybusiness.industryMedicina basada en l'evidènciaLasersReview-ArticleFototeràpiaTemporomandibular Joint DisordersPhototherapyEvidence level:CIENCIAS MÉDICAS [UNESCO]Articulació temporomandibularCiencias de la saludTemporomandibular jointClinical trialmedicine.anatomical_structureOtorhinolaryngologyDentistryUNESCO::CIENCIAS MÉDICASPhysical therapySurgerybusinessdescription
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.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-01 |