Review Article

Effectiveness of the Laser Application in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Systematic Review of 1172 Patients

Table 1

Major key characteristics of the included studies in this systematic review.

Author and yearStudy populationSample sizeStudy designAge/genderProblemLaser typeEnergy and application rateResults

Kulekcioglu et al., 2003 [8]Turkey35 patientsRCT20–59 years (female = 28, male = 7)Orofacial pain, TMJ sounds, limited mouth opening, or TMJ lockingGa-Al-As (LLLT), 904 nm wavelength180 seconds, dosage: 3 J/cm2 (15 sessions)Significant reduction of pain and improvement in maximum mouth opening and lateral motion
Kogawa et al., 2005 [9]Brazil19 patientsRCTMean age, 26.4 years (female = 19, male = 0)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLLT), wavelength of 830–904 nm4 J/cm2 (3 times a week, 10 sessions)Significant increase in maximum mouth opening and a decrease in tenderness
Abreu Venancio et al., 2005 [10]Brazil30 patientsRCTNot givenTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LILT), 780 nm wavelength6.3 J/cm2 (twice a week for 3 weeks, 6 sessions)No significant changes
Kato et al., 2006 [2]Brazil18 patientsRCTMean age, 25.6 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT, wavelength of 830–904 nm4 J/cm2 energy density (10 sessions, 3 times a week for 4 weeks)Significant decrease in pain and improvement in muscle tenderness
Núñez et al., 2006 [11]Brazil10 patientsNon-RCT clinical trials18–56 years (female = 8, male = 2)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LILT), 670 nm wavelength3 J per site, total time 8 minutesSignificant improvement in mouth opening
Emshoff et al., 2008 [7]Austria52 patientsRCT18 to 58 yearsPatients with unilateral TMJ painRed-beam laser, 632.8 nm HeNe laser1.5 J/cm2 energy density (2 to 3 treatments per week for 8 weeks)No significant differences in reducing pain
Cunha et al., 2008 [12]Brazil40 patientsRCT(Female = 39, male = 1)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 830 nm wavelength20 seconds, 100 J/cm2 (once a week for 4 weeks)No significant changes
Graciele Carrasco et al., 2008 [13]Brazil14 patientsRCTNot givenTemporomandibular dysfunction (TMD)Ga-Al-As (LILT), 780 nm wavelength60 seconds, 105 J/cm2 (twice per week for 4 weeks)Significant improvement of masticatory efficiency
Lassemi , 2008 [14]Iran48 patientsRCT(Female = 24, male = 24)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-As (LLLT), 980 nm wavelength2 J per point (2 sessions with a 48-h interval)Significant reduction of pain severity and clicking
Raheem et al., 2010 [5]Iraq34 patientsNon-RCT, convenience sampling(Female = 21, male = 13)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Semiconductor galium-aluminium (gas) LLLT, 785 nm wavelengthEnergy density of 16 J/cm2 (twice to thrice weekly and repeated 4 weeks, total 10 sessions)Significant reduction of pain and improvement in maximum mouth opening, lateral motion, and muscle tenderness
Mazzetto et al., 2010 [15]Brazil40 patientsRCTNot givenTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 830 nm wavelength10 s, 5 J/cm2Significant improvement in pain reduction and mandibular movement
Dostalová et al., 2012 [16]Prague27 patientsNon-RCTMean age of male 18.57 and female 27.57 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 830 nm wavelength15 s, 4 J/cm2 (once a week for 5 weeks)Significant reduction of pain
De Godoy et al., 2013 [17]Brazil85 patientsRCT15 and 18 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 780 nm wavelength20 s, 25 J/cm2 (6 weeks, a total of 12 sessions)Not significant
Catão et al., 2013 [18]Brazil20 patientsRCT19 to 58 years (female = 18, male = 2)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)As-Ga-Al laser (830 nm wavelength), InGaAIP laser (830 nm wavelength)4 J/cm2 (three times a week for 4 weeks, 12 sessions)Significant reduction in pain and improvement in mouth opening
Madani et al., 2014 [19]Iran20 patientsRCT35–60 years (female = 19, male = 1)TMJ osteoarthritisLLLT (low level laser), 810 nm wavelength6 J per point, 3.4 J/cm2 (three times a week for 4 weeks)No significant differences (for reducing pain and improving mouth opening)
Pereira et al., 2014 [20]Brazil19 patientsRCT21–55 years (female = 15, male = 4)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT, wavelength: 660 nm (red laser) and 795 nm (infrared laser)4 J/cm2 (an interval of 48 hours, total 3 sessions)Statistically significant in the treatment and remission of TMD symptoms
Sayed et al., 2014 [21]India20 patientsRCT19–47 years (female = 9, male = 11)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT semiconductive (diodic) gallium arsenide (GaAs) laser, 904 nm wavelength60 s, 4 J/cm2 (3 times a week for 2 weeks)Statistically significant in reducing the pain intensity, tenderness, joint sounds, and improvement in the range of jaw motion
Huang et al., 2014 [22]Taiwan20 patientsRCTNot givenTemporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 800 nm wavelength100.5 J/cm2 (once a week)Significant reduction of pain
Hu et al., 2014 [23]Taiwan29 patientsRetrospective convenience17–67 years (female = 25, male = 4)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 810 nm wavelength5s, 0.375 J/cm2 (3 times per week for 4 weeks)Significant improvement of treatment-resistant TMD
Seifi et al., 2017 [24]Iran40 patientsRCT18–50 yearsTemporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 810 nm wavelength(Four half-hour sessions per week)Significant decrease in pain and tenderness
Rezazadeh et al., 2017 [25]Iran45 patientsRCTNot givenTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), 980 nm wavelength2.5 minutes, 5 J/cm2 (8 sessions within 2 weeks)Significant reduction of pain and tenderness
Douglas de Oliveira et al., 2017 [26]Brazil19 patientsRCT21–55 years (female = 15, male = 4)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLL), wavelength: 660 nm (red laser) and 790 nm (infrared laser)1.06 s, 8 J/cm2 (3 sessions)Statistically significant in the treatment of TMD
Basili 2017 [27]Italy180 patientsNon-RCTNot givenTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 830 nm wavelength3 sessionsSignificant reduction of pain
De Godoy et al., 2017 [28]Brazil16 patientsRCT14–23 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 780 nm wavelength20 s, 25 J/cm2 (12 sessions)No significant changes
Shobha et al., 2017 [29]India40 patientsRCT18–40 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)Ga-Al-As (LLLT), 810 nm wavelength60 s, 6 J/cm2 (2-3 times a week, 8 sessions)No significant changes
Kashmoola 2018 [1]Malaysia22 patientsNon-RCT18–68 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT2-3 minutes, 0.5 W, 30 Hz daily for 3 days and then once a week for 2 weeksSignificant reduction of pain
Buduru et al., 2018 [30]Romania20 patientsNon-RCTNot givenTemporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 660 nm wavelengthEnergy intensity 90 mW (once each day, five days per week, for a total of 10 sessionsSignificant reduction of pain
Peimani et al., 2018 [31]Iran72 patientsRCT20–45 yearsTMJ dysfunctionLLLT, 808 nm wavelength144 J/cm2 (2 times a week for 4 weeks)Significant reduction of pain, clicking, and tenderness
Del Vecchio et al., 2019 [32]Italy90 patientsRCT18–73 years (female = 78, male = 12)Temporomandibular joint disorders- (TMJDs-) related painLLLT, 808 nm wavelength5 J/min (twice a day for 7 days)Significant reduction of pain
Tortelli et al., 2019 [33]Brazil12 patientsRCT23–50 yearsTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 808 nm ± 10 nm wavelength2 J, (72h intervals, for a total of 6 sessions)Significant decrease in pain and improve maximal opening capacity
Khairnar et al., 2019 [34]India42 patientsRCT25–45 yearsTemporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 660 nm wavelength2.2 J/minSignificant role in treating TMD-related pain
Yamaner et al., 2020 [35]Turkey62 patientsRCTMean age, 31.51 ± 10.32 years (female = 59, male = 3)Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)LLLT, 820 nm wavelength10 s, 3 J/cm2 (3 times a week, total 6 sessions)Significant reduction of pain