Effects of Laser Therapy and LED Therapy on Elderly Individuals With Temporomandibular Disorder

University of Nove de Julho

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Laser and LED Therapy on Elderly Individuals With Temporomandibular Disorder

Treatments: Radiation: LED therapy; Radiation: Laser Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03257748

DTMLU

Details and patient eligibility

About

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is described as a subgroup of orofacial pain with a set of signs and symptoms that involve the temporomandibular joint, masticatory muscles, ears and neck. TMD can occur unilaterally or bilaterally and approximately 70% of the population is affected with at least one sign. The disorder progresses with orofacial pain, muscle pain involving the masticatory and cervical muscles, joint noises (clicks and pops), joint block, mandibular dysfunction and headache. The etiology can be abnormal occlusion and/or posture, trauma involving local tissues, repetitive microtrauma, parafunctional habits and an increase in emotional stress. Studies have demonstrated that phototherapy is an efficient option for the treatment of TMD, leading to improvements in pain and orofacial function. The aim of the proposed study is to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy and light-emitting diode (LED) therapy on pain and function in patients with TMD. Methods: A randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial is proposed, which will involve 80 individuals between 40 and 70 years of age allocated to either a laser group or LED group submitted to twelve sessions of phototherapy. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs will be used to evaluate all participants. Pain will be measured using the visual analog scale. Orofacial function will be measured based on maximum vertical mandibular movement and muscle tension (determined through palpation of the masseter, temporal, frontal, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital and trapezius muscles). Electromyographic analysis of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles will also be performed.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of TMD based on the RDC/TMD;
• Age between 40 and 70 years.

Exclusion criteria

• Dentofacial anomalies;
• Currently in orthodontic or orthopedic treatment for the jaw;
• Currently undergoing physical therapy;
• Currently undergoing psychological treatment;
• Use of muscle relaxant or anti-inflammatory agent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

---

80 participants in 2 patient groups

LED group

Experimental group

Description:

The groups will be submitted to 12 sessions of phototherapy held twice a week for six weeks, during which only the researcher in charge of programming the phototherapy device will be aware of which treatment is being employed. However, the programmer will not participate in the execution of the treatments, evaluations or data analysis.

Treatment:

Radiation: LED therapy

Laser group

Experimental group

Description:

The groups will be submitted to 12 sessions of phototherapy held twice a week for six weeks, during which only the researcher in charge of programming the phototherapy device will be aware of which treatment is being employed. However, the programmer will not participate in the execution of the treatments, evaluations or data analysis.

Treatment:

Radiation: Laser Therapy