Role of Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Temporomandibular Joint Arthralgia.

Abstract

To study the efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of temporomandibular joint arthralgia. Design Interventional study (pre-post study), Setting Meenakshi Medical College And Hospital, Research Institute. Subjects 50 patients with temporomandibular joint arthralgia were evaluated for pain, mouth opening and clicking sound while mouth opening before and after treatment. Method Patients are subjected to undergo low-level laser therapy with Infrared and red rays with a therapeutic dosage ranging from 8J/cm2 to 15J/cm2 up to 3-5 sessions for a month each session lasts for 15-20min. The patients are to be followed up regularly after 1, 3, 6 and 8months in the study.The study measured the range of mouth opening in patients before and after undergoing low-level laser therapy. Before treatment, the range of mouth opening was from 2.78 to 3.97cm, with a mean value of 2.78cm and a standard deviation of 0.22. After treatment, the range of mouth opening was from 2.78 to 3.97cm, with a mean value of 3.97cm and a standard deviation of 0.24. The study also measured the VAS score for pain, with a mean and standard deviation of 7.9 ± 0.73 before treatment and 0.88 ± 0.718 after treatment. There was a significant difference between the pretreatment and post-treatment VAS scores, with a P-value of 0.05. Low-level laser therapy is an effective non invasive treatment modality for temporomandibular joint arthralgia. The patients who underwent this procedure had symptomatic relief and no remissions were observed.