The Effectiveness of Multimodality Treatment Including Stabilization Splint and Low-Level Laser Therapies on Managing...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Pain Management
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) presents diverse clinical issues affecting the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles.
• Common symptoms include pain, joint/muscle tenderness, and limited jaw movement.
• Evidence for combined modality treatment in TMD is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of combining stabilization splint therapy (SST) with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for TMD management.
• To compare the combined treatment (CT) efficacy against SST and LLLT alone.

Main Methods:

• A pilot parallel randomized clinical trial involving 30 TMD patients.
• Patients were randomized into three groups: SST, LLLT, and combined treatment (CT).
• Outcomes (pain, functional limitations) were assessed at baseline and weekly for four weeks.

Main Results:

• Combined treatment (CT) demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction in TMD patients compared to LLLT and SST.
• LLLT showed reduced pain but was less effective than SST at certain time points.
• Functional limitations improved over time, particularly in the CT group, with higher patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• The combined modality treatment (CT) yielded superior results compared to SST and LLLT alone for TMD.
• This pilot trial suggests that a combined approach may offer the greatest improvement for TMD patients.