Efficacy of Prolotherapy for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction: An Interventional Clinical Study

BACKGROUND This research is aimed at minimizing the patient's discomfort and suffering from temporomandibular joint disorders through less-invasive procedures to evaluate the efficacy of proliferative injection therapy, particularly prolotherapy, in fearful patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS A structured questionnaire covering symptom intensity and presence or absence of TMJ clicking and joint hypermobility in patients with confirmed temporomandibular disorder symptoms was completed by patients. Mouth opening and maximum incisor height was measured in millimeters. Degree of pain was obtained from the Visual Analog Scale score. The patients were referred to an oral surgeon who did the prolotherapy procedure, and this was repeated at the end of 1, 3, and 6 months. The collected data were analyzed using the Chi-square and t-tests. RESULTS The patients' pain decreased from the third month of treatment until the end of the sixth month of the treatment program, and patient mouth opening ability was significantly different (F=3. 56; df=2; P<0. 05). After a duration of 3 months of the process of treatment, crepitus and periauricular discomfort were reduced. In terms of pain and mouth opening, prolotherapy in treating temporomandibular disorder was generally beneficial as shown by the P<0.05 scores. CONCLUSIONS From this evaluation, prolotherapy using 50% dextrose as a single injection via a conventional protocol, which can be single dosage or several doses, is recommended as treatment for chronic recurring dislocations and mandibular subluxations. Recurrent or severe cases can only be managed through operations. Much larger studies with greater sample sizes and even longer follow-up periods are necessary for the results of this study to be supported.