Laser Acupuncture On Chronic Temporomandibular Disorders-Preliminary Randomized Clinical Trial

The laser acupuncture is the union of two established therapeutic techniques for temporomandibular disorders (TMD’s): low level laser therapy applied on acupuncture points. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of laser acupuncture auriculo therapy in different densities of 780nm-laser irradiation in patients with chronic muscular TMD’s, diagnosed by Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD.Method: Eighteen patients were selected and received a self-care guide. Afterwards, they were randomly distributed into three groups (n=6), in accordance with the laser dosimetry applied: 1- 1.9J/cm²; 2- 6.4J/cm²; 3- 0J/cm² (placebo). Neither the operator nor the patients knew the dosimetry. All patients underwent 10 sessions of treatment. The level of muscular pain was quantified, after palpation of each individual masticatory muscle, using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The maximum mouth opening was also assessed. Data were collected in the first (baseline), fifth and tenth sessions and were submitted to paired Student’s t test (α<0.05). Result: The group 1 presented a baseline VAS of 5.8±2.1, after fifth session of 4.1±1.4 (p<0.05) and after tenth session of 1.8±1.2 (p<0.01). The group 2 presented VAS of 5.2±1.2, 3.6±2.1 (p<0.05) and 2.9±2.7 (p<0.05), respectively, while the placebo group presented VAS of 6.6±1.8, 5.5±1.8 and 5.3±2.2, with no significant muscular pain reduction.  Regarding maximum mouth opening, the group 1 presented a baseline value of 35.2±6.8mm, after fifth session of 36.3±5.4mm and after tenth session of 39±6mm (p<0.05), while group 2 presented a baseline value of 38.3±6.2mm, followed by 38±7.8mm after fifth session and 39.5±6.2mm at the end of the treatment. The placebo group presented 35.7±4.2mm, 35.3±5.1mm and 36.2±3.8mm, respectively.Conclusion: Laser acupuncture auriculotherapy at 1.9J/cm² presented promising effects on chronic muscular TMD.