Local Vibration Therapy for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain: A Systematic Review

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) commonly present with soreness in the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular-joint (TMJ) area, along with creaking or clicking during opening or closing of the mouth. These symptoms often worsen during mastication process and while yawning or speaking, gradually interfering with normal function and daily life. This review of the literature aims to analyze the effectiveness of local vibratory therapy and its application in the treatment of TMD and orofacial pain. The PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Embase databases were analyzed using appropriate keywords. After screening 310 results, three TMD-specific clinical studies were selected, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. In this systematic review, evaluating local vibration therapy in TMDs and orofacial pain, a total of 76 participants from three TMD-specific clinical studies were included. Significant heterogeneity was found in intervention protocols, vibration modalities, treatment duration, and outcome assessment methods. Short-term improvement was noted in TMJ pain, muscular pain, headache intensity, painful sites to palpation, maximal mouth opening, and mandibular function after active vibration interventions. Placebo or inactive-device groups generally demonstrated limited or no comparable improvement. Overall, the available evidence suggests a potential short-term symptomatic benefit of local vibration therapy; however, the certainty of the evidence remains limited. Although the available clinical evidence suggests short-term pain relief and functional improvement with local vibration therapy in TMD and orofacial pain, it remains inadequate for a definitive clinical recommendation. Hence, its therapeutic utility should be further evaluated through standardized protocols and rigorously designed future randomized controlled trials.