Treatment Of Temporomandibular Disorders Research Articles

Surgical treatment of intracapsular temporomandibular disorders.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathologies are prevalent, affecting approximately 40% of the worldwide population, with nearly 80% involving intracapsular disorders. Despite this, standardized treatment protocols are lacking. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of conservative and surgical approaches in managing intracapsular TMJ disorders. Eighty-six patients diagnosed with intracapsular TMJ disorders were included in the study, with 40 males and 46 females, averaging 52.4 ± 4.7 years. Patients were recruited from polyclinics in Beijing, China (n = 36), and Kyiv, Ukraine (n = 50). A comprehensive examination protocol was conducted, including assessment of patient complaints, medical history, jaw mobility measurements, TMJ palpation, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening. The main outcomes of our study revealed significant improvements in patients undergoing surgical intervention for intracapsular TMJ disorders, particularly in cases of disc displacement. Conservative mouth guard/occlusal splint treatment showed limited effectiveness, primarily improving joint effusion and disc displacement. Surgical intervention led to notable enhancements in various TMJ parameters, with significant improvements observed in joint function and pain reduction. Based on these findings, orthodontic rehabilitation was recommended to ensure long-term efficacy, focusing on optimizing occlusion and restoring TMJ function. These results highlight the importance of tailored treatment approaches for managing intracapsular TMJ disorders, emphasizing the role of surgical intervention coupled with comprehensive rehabilitation strategies. Future research should consider demographic factors and explore innovative examination methods, such as optical systems, to enhance understanding and management of intracapsular TMJ disorders.

Progress in the Study of Temporomandibular Joint Lavage in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder.

With the continuous development and progress of medicine, there are many methods for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, among which temporomandibular joint lavage is also constantly developed. In the past century, through the efforts of some scholars and clinical summary, the understanding of this disease has been deepened and broadened. At present, through continuous exploration of the treatment methods, the lavage is relatively mature, and has achieved good clinical results. In this paper, the application of temporomandibular joint lavage in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders, its treatment methods, treatment mechanism, the auxiliary of other drugs, indications, complications and so on were discussed.

Low-Level Laser and TENS Therapy Assessment for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

ABSTRACT Introduction: The most prevalent conditions in the population are temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), which are linked to a number of morbidities. A number of treatment options have been proposed, and some of the most successful ones include low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of two therapies—TENS treatment and LLLT—in the management of morbidities related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Materials and Methods: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 50 patients who had been sent to the oral medicine outpatient department and had been pre-diagnosed with TMJ disorders were randomly assigned to two groups, with 25 patients in each: Group I received TENS therapy, while Group II received LLLT. The acquired data was assessed statistically. Result: Both groups showed a substantial decrease in discomfort, an increase in mouth opening, and a decrease in muscular tenderness when compared to within groups. LLT was more effective than TENS for TMD treatment. Conclusion: While TENS and LLLT both had good results, LLLT appeared to outperform TENS therapy in terms of muscle tenderness factors.

The application of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders in a preliminary, small sample study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of low-intensity, high-frequency shock waves in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Twenty-six patients with temporomandibular joint disorder admitted to the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from August 2022 to December 2022 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into two groups, A and B, with 13 patients each. In Group A, there were 5 males and 8 females with an average age of 38.85 ± 11.03 years. In Group B, there were 4 males and 9 females with an average age of 39.15 ± 11.16 years. Group A was the control group, which received routine treatment (manual massage + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation + ultrashort wave therapy) plus sham shock wave therapy; Group B was the experimental group, which received routine treatment (manual massage + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation + ultrashort wave therapy) plus shock wave therapy. The routine treatment was administered once/day, five times per week for a total of 2 weeks of treatment. In addition, shock wave therapy was administered once every 5 days, and the treatment was administered three times. The treatment period was 2 weeks, and the two groups were compared before treatment, at the end of the treatment period, and 4 weeks after treatment. The pain level of the two groups was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment, and the temporomandibular opening index (TOI) before and after treatment was compared between the two groups. VAS and TOI scores were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and two-way ANOVA. There was no significant difference in the VAS score and temporomandibular opening index between the two groups before treatment (p = .829 and .75, respectively). After 2 weeks of treatment, the VAS score and temporomandibular joint opening index of both groups were significantly improved compared to those before therapy. In addition, the VAS score and temporomandibular joint opening index in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (p < .001 and <.001, respectively). There was a small increase in scores 4 weeks after the treatment compared to just after the treatment period, but the difference was not significant. This is a preliminary small sample study that demonstrates the positive effect of using low-intensity, high-frequency shock waves on the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Dental practitioners’ knowledge, management practices, and attitudes toward collaboration in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundTemporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are a variety of conditions that affect different parts of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and can cause orofacial pain and functional impairment. This study aims to investigate dental practitioners’ knowledge and management of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMDs), particularly their knowledge of the role physical therapy plays in TMD treatment.MethodsA mixed-methods approach was adopted to provide a comprehensive view of current knowledge, management practices, and attitudes toward collaboration among dental practitioners in treating TMD. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 335 dentists in Karachi using a detailed questionnaire to assess their knowledge of the role of physical therapy in the treatment of TMD. Twenty dentists were chosen for face-to-face, in-depth interviews to explore their experiences and challenges in managing TMDs based on their responses to the administered questionnaire.ResultsThe cumulative quantitative and qualitative findings of the study revealed a landscape marked by individualized approaches to referral practices and significant gaps in interdisciplinary collaboration. Most practitioners holding a bachelor’s degree predominantly used medication (65.2%) and cause-specific treatment (65.3%) for TMD treatment. Thematic analysis of clinical efficacy and practitioner challenges in managing TMD revealed significant issues faced by dental professionals.ConclusionsThe study successfully validated a questionnaire to understand dental practitioners’ knowledge regarding physical therapy in TMD treatment. The study identified significant gaps in knowledge and a lack of collaboration between dentists and physiotherapists. The limited referral practices highlighted in the study, along with insights from dentist interviews, emphasize the need for improved interdisciplinary approaches to managing TMDs within dental practice.

Visual psychosocial profiling of Chinese temporomandibular disorder pain patients and correlations with somatosensory function.

Psychosocial function of Chinese temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain patients and the correlation with somatosensory function has not been sufficiently studied. The study aims at assessing the psychosocial function of Chinese TMD pain patients by visualisation method and evaluating the correlations with somatosensory function quantitatively. The Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire and standardised quantitative sensory testing (QST) were administered to 70 Chinese TMD pain patients and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs). Of these, 40 TMD arthralgia patients received QST before and after medication. Psychosocial and somatosensory parameters were transformed into standardised scores. Differences within groups were assessed through t tests. Correlations between psychosocial and somatosensory profiles were explored through correlation analyses with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. 100% of the Chinese TMD pain patients exhibited psychosocial distress in contrast to HCs. Anger and hostility showed negative correlation with the thermal nonnociceptive parameter (thermal sensory limen, p =.002) and nociceptive parameters (cold pain threshold and pain pressure threshold, p<.001). Correlation analysis indicated that cold detection threshold was negatively correlated with somatization and mechanical pain sensitivity had a negative correlation with anger and hostility through medical treatment (p <.001). Visual psychosocial profiles provided an easy overview of psychosocial function in Chinese TMD pain patients. Anger and hostility was associated with increased thermal nonnociceptive and nociceptive sensitivity to stimuli. Psychosocial distress might be negatively associated with TMD treatment response which indicated a possible need for psychological intervention during treatment.

Effectiveness of Laser Acupuncture for Reducing Pain and Increasing Mouth Opening Range in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Laser acupuncture (LA) demonstrates promising results in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. However, its effects on temporomandibular disorder (TMD) are not yet fully understood. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of LA on pain intensity and maximum mouth opening range (MMO) related to TMD. A search was carried out in 11 electronic databases and references of included studies to locate randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated LA as a primary treatment for TMD. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. Network meta-analysis was conducted on the MetaInsight platform, considering the pain intensity and counseling (C) as the outcome of reference. The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. Five studies evaluated pain intensity, four with a high risk of bias and one with a low risk. Two studies evaluated pain intensity on palpation (one with high and one with low risk of bias), and one study with high risk of bias evaluated MMO. Laser parameters were: 690-810nm, 40-150 mW, and 7.5-112.5J/cm2. Occlusal splint (OS) [- 2.47; CI 95% - 3.64, - 1.30] and Physiotherapy (PT) [-2.64; CI 95% - 3.94, - 1.34] reduced pain intensity compared to C. The ranking of treatments in order of effectiveness was PT > OS > LA > C > CR (craniopuncture). The certainty of the evidence was very low or low. The data do not support the indication of LA for the treatment of TMDs and new placebo-controlled RCTs must be conducted to demonstrate its effectiveness more precisely.

Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders

Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders

Psychological treatments for temporomandibular disorder pain-A systematic review.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common. They affect abilities for carrying out daily tasks and influence different psychological aspects. In addition to standard treatment, psychological treatments have been suggested. The aim was to investigate the effects of psychological treatments on patients with painful TMD in a short- and long-term perspective. An electronic search was conducted in the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) reporting psychological interventions for TMD. Registered beforehand in PROSPERO (CRD42022320106). In total, 18 RCTs were included; six RCTs that could be used in the meta-analysis, and all 18 RCTs were used in the narrative synthesis. Risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane's tool for assessing risk of bias and certainty of evidence by GRADE. The narrative synthesis indicates that psychological treatment options seem equivalent to standard treatment for painful TMD. The meta-analysis showed that a combination of psychological treatment and standard treatment and manual treatment (very low-quality evidence) are significantly better in pain reduction than just counselling and standard treatments of TMD. This study indicates that psychological treatments seem to reduce pain intensity in individuals with painful TMD, and that the effect seems to be equally good as standard treatment. However, a combination of psychological treatments and standard treatments seems to have an even better effect. This indicates that psychological treatments are promising as an additional treatment approach for painful TMDs.

Effectiveness and safety of hominis placental pharmacopuncture for chronic temporomandibular disorder: A multi-center randomized controlled trial

BackgroundHominis placental (HPP) extract has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea for treating chronic liver diseases and postmenopausal syndrome. However, its efficacy and safety for treating chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) remains unclear. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of HPP for treating chronic TMD compared with physical therapy (PT). MethodsThis study is a 2-arm parallel, multi-center, randomized controlled trial. We enrolled 82 chronic TMD patients from 2 Korean medicine hospitals between December 2019 and January 2021. We included patients with chronic TMD and randomly assigned them to undergo HPP or PT. The primary outcome was the difference in the scores for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain at baseline and week 6. The secondary outcomes were the scores for TMJ pain and bothersomeness, TMJ range of motion, the Korean version of Beck's depression index-Ⅱ, jaw functional limitation scale (JFLS) score, patient global impression of change (PGIC) scores, EuroQoL 5-dimension 5-level score, and short form-12 health survey (SF-12) scores. ResultsCompared with PT, HPP showed significantly superior effects on TMJ pain and bothersomeness, protrusive movement pain, JFLS (verbal, emotional, and global), SF-12, and PGIC scores at week 6 (P < 0.05). Compared with the PT group, the HPP group showed a significantly higher recovery rate (≥50 % reduction in the scores for TMJ pain at the 24-week follow-up). ConclusionHPP was more effective than PT managing pain and improving function and quality of life. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of HPP for TMD treatment. Trial registrationThis study has been registered at clinicalTrials.gov (NCT04087005), Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) (KCT0004437), and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (No. 31886).

FULL MOUTH REHABILITATION AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ANTIAGING. CASE REPORT

It is a well-known fact that white teeth, harmonically located in the dental rows, with no defects, wear signs and pathology in the periodontium, are a sign of youthfulness and some kind of a mirror of overall body health. Actually, the dentist can be the first one to detect the first manifestations of any somatic diseases or deficiencies during examination of the patient. Modern digital technologies can offer high quality and aesthetics of the dental procedures, that also benefits in the time of dental sessions, which is less stressful for the patient, the dentist and the laboratory. This study presents a clinical case of complex functional and aesthetical dental rehabilitation of a 34-year-old patient.&#x0D; The main complaint of the patient was a change of the face image, tooth wear and unsatisfactory appearance of the teeth, as well as discomfort during the jaw movements and occlusion. Since the patient had clear time limits, namely 3 months, rehabilitation, was carried out according to a fast protocol. It included increase of the vertical dimension, using botulinum therapy of the masticatory muscles, temporary prosthetic crowns and final full zirconia crowns. Also, splint therapy for the treatment of temporomandibular disorder was included to the protocol, as this problem hasn`t been treated in time. During the rehabilitation process, cone-beam computed tomography of the jaws and joints, an intraoral scanner, and the most modern digital workflow for prosthetics were performed.&#x0D; As a result of the rehabilitation, the lost chewing function and aesthetics of the teeth were restored. The tone of the masticatory muscles and the range of the jaw movements were harmoniously corrected, the cheek pits, the upper and lower lips increased in volume, therefore the shape and size of the lower part of the face increased and the patient’s smile became snow-white. The patient’s general condition and mood improved, he gained a new younger look.

Muscle and joint mechanics during maximum force biting following total temporomandibular joint replacement surgery

Total temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJR) surgery is the established treatment for severe temporomandibular joint disorders. While TMJR surgery is known to increase mouth-opening capacity, reduce pain and improve quality of life, little is known about post-surgical jaw function during activities of daily living such as biting and chewing. The aim of this study was to use subject-specific 3D bite force measurements to evaluate the magnitude and direction of joint loading in unilateral total TMJR patients and compare these data to those in healthy control subjects. An optoelectronic tracking system was used to measure jaw kinematics while biting a rubber sample for 5 unilateral total TMJR patients and 8 controls. Finite element simulations driven by the measured kinematics were employed to calculate the resultant bite force generated when compressing the rubber between teeth during biting tasks. Subject-specific musculoskeletal models were subsequently used to calculate muscle and TMJ loading. Unilateral total TMJR patients generated a bite force of 249.6 ± 24.4 N and 164.2 ± 62.3 N when biting on the contralateral and ipsilateral molars, respectively. In contrast, controls generated a bite force of 317.1 ± 206.6 N. Unilateral total TMJR patients biting on the contralateral molars had a significantly higher lateral TMJ force direction (median difference: 63.6°, p = 0.028) and a significantly lower ratio of working TMJ force to bite force (median difference: 0.17, p = 0.049) than controls. Results of this study may guide TMJ prosthesis design and evaluation of dental implants.

Clinical and MRI-Based Assessment of Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders Treated by Controlled Mandibular Repositioning.

Occlusal splints and anterior repositioning splints (ARSs) are widely accepted treatments for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). However, there is uncertainty with regard to the most suitable amount of mandibular repositioning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and functional effects of the therapeutic position (ThP) established based on the Controlled Mandibular Repositioning (CMR) method. In this clinical trial, 20 subjects with 37 joints with disc displacement with reduction were recruited. The initial standard functional diagnostic protocol, MRI, and digital condylography were performed, and ThP was calculated with the CMR method. After a 6-month follow-up, the standard diagnostic protocol was repeated. The change in disc position was evaluated by means of MRI after 6 months of CMR therapy. The MRI findings in the parasagittal plane demonstrated that out of the 37 joints presenting disc displacement, 36 discs were successfully repositioned; thus, the condyle-disc-fossa relationship was re-established. Therefore, the success rate of this pilot study was 97.3%. The mean position of the displaced discs was at 10:30 o'clock of the TMJ joint and at 12:00 o'clock after CMR therapy. The ThP determined using the CMR approach reduced all of the anteriorly displaced discs (except one). The CMR method allowed to define an optimum ThP of the mandible thus supporting patients' effective adaptation to treatment position.

Does Liquid/Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin Help in the Arthrocentesis Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Compared to Other Infusion Options? A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are prevalent musculoskeletal conditions involving pain and dysfunction of jaw mobility and function, which have proven difficult to treat satisfactorily. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a liquid platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) infusion during arthrocentesis versus other options using coadjuvant materials to reduce TMD symptoms. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov for RCTs published before January 2024, comparing i-PRF to any other TMD treatment. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023495364). The searches generated several recent RCTs that compared i-PRF injection combined with arthrocentesis (AC) to AC-only or AC with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The outcomes analyzed included measures of pain (visual analog scale, VAS), maximum mouth opening, joint sounds, and MRI-verified changes in joint structure. Across the RCTs, the addition of i-PRF injection to AC resulted in significant improvements in pain relief, joint function, mouth opening, and structural changes compared to AC-only or with PRP over follow-up periods ranging from 6 to 12 months. Current clinical evidence favors using i-PRF as an adjunct to AC rather than AC-only or AC with PRP for the treatment of TMDs. The improvements in subjective and objective outcome measures are clinically meaningful. Still, additional high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are required to strengthen the evidence base and better define the role of i-PRF in TMD management guidelines.

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the treatment of Temporomandibular disorders.

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the treatment of Temporomandibular disorders.

Checking the manufacturing of Simões Network 10 – SN10 through surface electromyography (sEMG) – Case report Study

Use of functional orthopedic appliances (FOA) in the treatment of malocclusion and Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) has been proved to be effective but there is still questions to be answered like the muscular action of the referred appliances. The aim of this study is checking through a proven protocol of surface electromyography (sEMG) to study muscular action of FOA to check to check if it is correctly manufactured. The appliance studied is a Simões Network 10 – SN10 to treat Class II malocclusion of retrognathia. The sEMG was collected 1 patients with class II malocclusion with retrognathia who belong to a 164 volunteers with malocclusion, in two times T1 before installation of the FOA in mouth, T2 15 minutes after the FOA installation in the mouth. sEMG data of bilateral masseter, bilateral temporal and bilateral suprahyoid muscles using conditioner signals module from Lynx Electronics Ltda with 8 channels, model EMG1000; software AqDAnalysis 4,18 from Lynx Electronics Ltda.; Software Lynx BioInspector 1,8r; passive surface electrodes (Ag/AgCl) from Noraxon Dual Electrodes (USA); dischargeable reference electrodes Kendall Meditrace (Ag/AgCl) – Canada were used for the sEMG measurements. Frequency calibration was 2000 Hz, with 2048 sample by channel and time 1,024 seconds, and filters regulation was 20 Hz and 1000 Hz. With the FOA in the mouth all measurements improved with a more simetrical sEMG in T2 in rest and isometric contraction measurements. The protocol used to check the manufacturing of functional orthopedic appliances using surface EMG proved to be a valid tool in this case report study. Further investigations are needed to confirm this protocol and check if the same happens with other types of functional orthopedics appliances.

Efficacy of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the scientific literature regarding the use of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in the treatment of pain associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The aim of this article was to assess the clinical evidence for acupuncture and laser acupuncture therapies as treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).Materials and methodsThis systematic review includes randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and laser acupuncture as a treatment for TMD compared to other treatments. Systematic searches were conducted in 3 electronic databases up to July 2023; PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases. All RCTs of acupuncture for TMD were searched without language restrictions. Studies in which no clinical data and complex interventions were excluded. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2) tool was employed to analyze randomized controlled trials. A Meta-analysis was performed in order to investigate a quantitative analysis comparing acupuncture and laser acupuncture to placebo.ResultsA total of 11 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The findings show that acupuncture is short-term helpful for reducing the severity of TMD pain with muscle origin. Meta-analysis revealed that the Acupuncture group and Laser Acupuncture group had a higher efficacy rate than the Placebo control group, showing a high efficacy of Acupuncture and Laser Acupuncture group in the treatment of temporomandibular.ConclusionsIn conclusion, our systematic review demonstrate that the evidence for acupuncture as a symptomatic treatment of TMD is limited. Further rigorous studies are, however, required to establish beyond doubt whether acupuncture has therapeutic value for this indication. However high efficacy of Laser Acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders was reported.

Infiltration of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Infiltration of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Homeopathy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders in Covid-19

ABSTRACT The literature records the relevance of emotional and psychosocial status as triggering factors for sleep disorders and orofacial pain, including temporomandibular disorder. Homeopathy is a complementary treatment method for these conditions. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that causes respiratory disease, COVID-19, identified in December 2019, in China the significant increase in changes in sleep and mood cycles as triggers of various forms of orofacial pain and bruxism, presented as oral-facial comorbidities resulting from the pandemic. The objective of this retrospective observational study was to analyze data from 129 records of patients seen between May 2020 and May 2021 diagnosed with Temporomandibular Disorder and seen at Clínica Núcleo Endo for dentistry and orofacial pain care. Methodology: Of these, 35 with a diagnosis of TMD and clinical follow-up by a Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire and questionnaire, received a prescription for the homeopathic medicine Chamomille 30CH (Matricaria chamomilla L.) drops at a dose of 5 drops daily to assess the effectiveness of the use of the drug in controlling pain and changes in sleep and mood, with and without the installation of the interocclusal plaque. Conclusion: Chamomilla 30 CH has been demonstrated to be effective as a treatment Complement the changes: Of pain, stress and anxiety and humor. Other clinical work are necessary for further elucidation About chamomilla's action mechanisms and its healing potential.

Pharmacological Treatments of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review Including a Network Meta-Analysis.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise a cluster of conditions with a wide range of etiological factors that causes pain and discomfort in the masticatory muscles (TMD-M) and temporomandibular joints (TMD-J). More than 50% of the patients with TMD report regular usage of drugs. However, there is still no consensus, nor is there any evidence-based support for clinicians when choosing between different drugs. Therefore, this systematic review, including a network meta-analysis (NMA), aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence and discuss the pharmacological treatment options available to treat painful TMD. An electronic search was undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating pharmacological treatments for TMD-M and/or TMD-J, published until 6April2023. Since only 11 articles could be used for an NMA regarding TMD-M, a narrative synthesis was also performed for all 40 included RCTs. The quality of evidence was rated according to Cochrane's tool for assessing risk of bias, while the certainty of evidence was rated according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). When it comes to TMD-M, evidence arises for wet needling therapies with BTX-A, granisetron, and PRP as well as muscle relaxants. For TMD-J, evidence points toward pharmacological treatment approaches including non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticosteriods (for inflammatory conditions) as well as hyaluronic acid and dextrose. The evidence clearly indicates that the pharmacological treatment approaches differ between TMD-M and TMD-J. Therefore, it is of great importance to first try to uncover each patient's individual and multifactorial etiology and then employ a multifaceted treatment strategy, including pharmacological treatment approaches.