Low-level laser therapy for patients with temporomandibular disorders: a synopsis of systematic reviews and current...

The aim of this overview is threefold: evaluate whether the evidence available up to 2019 supported the American Academy of Orofacial Pain's (AAOP) critical position on the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the management of temporomandibular pain; identify and evaluate new evidence published since 2019; and provide updated clinical recommendations.

A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted (last updated February 2026). Systematic reviews (SRs) and randomized controlled trial (RCT) articles were identified using respective filters. Relevant citations were extracted into a spreadsheet and analyzed.

Thirty SRs associated with 156 distinct publications on LLLT, and 11 RCT articles representing data from 10 studies were included. While studies before 2020 were methodologically weak, more recent evidence demonstrates greater methodologic rigor and more consistent positive outcomes. Available SRs reported significant short-term pain reduction and improved maximum jaw opening, preferably with wavelengths between 810 and 1,100 nm, and therapy durations exceeding 4 weeks. Combination therapies (LLLT with splints or physiotherapy) showed enhanced outcomes. However, heterogeneity in study design and laser parameters persists, which limits generalizability.

The extant literature published since 2019 suggests that LLLT is more effective at managing temporomandibular pain than the 2023 AAOP guidelines indicate. This observation is particularly salient in cases of TMJ arthralgia and other intra-articular pathologies. LLLT appears to be a safe, noninvasive, and effective adjunctive therapy within multimodal management. Future studies should standardize therapy-related parameters to strengthen clinical recommendations. (Quintessence Int 2026;57:350-357; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b6961747).