LED Photobiomodulation for Pain Reduction in Temporomandibular Disorder: A Randomized, Controlled, and Blinded Clinical Trial

TL;DR

A clinical trial found that LED photobiomodulation reduced pain in patients with temporomandibular disorder, but had no effect on joint mobility.

Contribution

This study provides clinical evidence that LED-based photobiomodulation can reduce pain in TMD patients.

Findings

Pain reduction was observed only in the LED group post-intervention.

No significant differences in mandibular or cervical mobility were found between groups.

Left laterality increased in the LED group.

Abstract

This clinical, randomized, controlled, and blinded trial evaluated photobiomodulation (PBM) using 850 nm (infrared) and 660 nm (red) LED clusters on cervical and mandibular mobility and masticatory muscles in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. PBM was applied to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region, masseter, temporal, scalene, and trapezius muscles over six non‐consecutive sessions over 2 weeks. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) were used to determine the presence of TMD. A caliper and goniometer were used to measure the mandibular and cervical range of motion, respectively. Pain was assessed with the visual analog scale (VAS) before and after intervention. Results showed pain reduction only in the LED group post‐intervention; the placebo group showed no difference. No differences were observed in mouth opening, right laterality, flexion, or extension between groups, but left laterality increased in the LED group. In conclusion, PBM with LEDs effectively reduced pain in TMD patients.

Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06068959

This randomized, controlled, and blinded trial demonstrated that photobiomodulation (PBM) with 850 nm (infrared) and 660 nm (red) LED clusters effectively reduced pain in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD).

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