Temporomandibular joint pain analgesia by linearly polarized near-infrared irradiation

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe a pilot treatment of temporomandibular joint pain by linearly polarized near-infrared irradiation.

Design: A prospective clinical study.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Patients: Patients comprised 20 women (mean age +/- SD: 26.6 +/- 15.2 years) with unilateral temporomandibular pain. The patients had already received other conservative treatments, but temporomandibular pain did not attenuate.

Intervention: Linearly polarized near-infrared irradiation with the Super Lizer was used.

Results: The painless interincisal distance of the mouth opening, which is one of the objective parameters of temporomandibular dysfunction, and the visual analogue scale of the affected temporomandibular joint before treatment were 33.4 +/- 6.5 mm and 5.0 +/- 2.7 points, respectively. Pilot linearly polarized near-infrared irradiation was applied weekly to the skin areas overlying four painful points. The present treatment alleviated temporomandibular pain after the patients had received only four weekly irradiation treatments, with final measured values of the visual analogue scale being 1.4 +/- 1.6 points. The final painless mouth-opening distance increased by 7.6 +/- 4.6 mm compared with the first measured distance without complications.

Conclusion: This pilot treatment using the Super Lizer provided relief from temporomandibular pain over a period of 4 weeks.