The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combining low-level laser therapy and the self-management program for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders using a randomized controlled design.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combining low level laser therapy and self-management program for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders using a randomized controlled design. 66 patients suffering from acute and subacute myalgia diagnosed using Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) at High-tech Center for Odonto-Stomatology, Institute of Odonto-Stomatology, Ha Noi Medical University, Viet Nam. Patients without treatment (because of economic or geographical conditions) were persuaded to join the control group. Group 3 includes 22 patients who will be counseled on changing habits, adjusting behavior, exercising and will be taken in order of examination. 44 patients will be randomized into the remaining 2 groups: * Group 1: wear stabilization splint at night for 2 months combined with counseling, behavior modification, and exercise. * Group 2: recieve low level laser treatment 3 times aweek, 20 seconds/ session, 10 sessions in total, combined with counseling, behavior modification, and exercise. Assessment takes place at baseline, after treatment approximately 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks later and 48 weeks follow up. The effects of the interventions are evaluated in terms of reduction in pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale-VAS), number of masticatory muscle pain point with palpation, number of supplemental muscle pain with palpation, maximum mouth opening, right lateral movements, left lateral movements, protrusive movements, Jaw functional limitation scale (JFLS-8), psychological variables such as PHQ-9, PHQ-4, GAD-7. Data were entered and analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software. Use Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Wilcoxon test applied to non-normally distributed variables to compare VAS between groups at different follow-up times. Use paired t-test and independent t-test to compare the maximum opening, lateral movements, protrusive movements, JFLS-8, PHQ-9, PHQ-4, GAD-7 between groups before and after treatment. p value \< 0.05 is considered statistically significant.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
66
Self-Management Program includes education about the disorder, proprioceptive awareness and reversing parafunctional habits, relaxation techniques, and stress management. Furthermore, patients are also consulted on changing habits, adjusting behavior, and exercising. Patients are instructed to adjust their behavior: quit harmful habits to limit pain in daily functional activities, maintain scientific sleep, maintain good head, neck, and shoulder activities, soft diet and avoid hard foods, do exercises twice a day: open mouth wide combined with cool compresses and warm compresses.
LLLT may facilitate the release of endogenous opioids, tissue repairment and cellular respiration, increase vasodilatation and pain threshold, and decrease inflammation. Diode low-energy laser machine (Sirolaser blue, Dentsply) are set the default mode according to the correct parameters before use: wavelength 660nm, energy level 2.5 J/cm2, power source 100mW. The projection head is placed perpendicular to the muscle being projected. The laser light is shined on the pain point at the beginning of the treatment, then it will shine on muscle points in turn: temporal muscle (anterior, middle, posterior), masseter muscle (upper, middle, lower), 5 points around the temporomandibular joint area (superior, anterior, lateral, posterior, posterior subcondylar). Each masticatory muscle area is treated for 20 seconds, 3 sessions /week (different days), 10 sessions total. In addition, patients are still instructed Self-Management Program as group 1.
High-tech center for Ondonto-stomatology, Institute of Odonto-Stomatology, Ha Noi Medical University
Hà Nội, Vietnam
VAS
The VAS (Visual Analog Scale) pain scale consists of a 10 cm long straight line (without marks), with "no pain" written at the left end and "unbearable pain" written at the right end. Patients were instructed to mark a vertical line above the horizontal line indicating the intensity of their pain. The distance from the zero point to the marker is then measured in millimeters by a caliper. Add the total score of the answers to evaluate the severity according to the following scale: ≤3.4: mild; 3.5-7.4: average; ≥ 7.5: severe
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
Numbers of masticatory muscle pain with palpation
Numbers of muscle pain points are determined by the examiner using a fingertip force of 1kg to palpate the masticatory muscles: temporal muscles (anterior, middle, posterior), masseter muscles (origin, body, attachment, surrounding muscles. Before palpating , the fingertip force needs to be calibrated 3 times with a micro scale, touching each side one by one.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
Maximum mouth opening
Maximum mouth opening (MMO) was defined asthe maximal interincisal distance on unassisted active mouth opening when the patient opens his mouth maximally without feeling pain. Use a ruler with mm value.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
Numbers of supplemental muscle pain with palpation
Numbers of supplemental muscle pain points are determined by the examiner using a fingertip force of 1kg to palpate the masticatory muscles: temporal muscles (anterior, middle, posterior), masseter muscles (origin, body, attachment, surrounding muscles. Before palpating , the fingertip force needs to be calibrated 3 times with a micro scale, touching each side one by one.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Maxillary occlusal splints are made of hard acrylic after taking impressions of the upper dental arches, recording of centric relation (Okeson). Splints are adjusted to provide even occlusal contact during jaw closing and chewing, and canine and incisor contact during protrusive movements of the jaw. Patients are instructed to use the splint each night at least 8 hours/day for a period of 8 weeks.In addition, patients are still instructed Self-Management Program as group 1.
Right lateral movements
Ask the patient to open slightly, and to move his or her jaw as far as he/she can to the right, even if it is painful. Measure from the maxillary reference midline to the mandibular reference midline.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
Left lateral movements
Ask the patient to open slightly, and to move his or her jaw as far as he/she can to the left, even if it is painful. Measure from the maxillary reference midline to the mandibular reference midline.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
Protrusive movements
Ask the patient to open slightly, and to move his or her jaw as far as he/she can forward, even if it is painful. Measure the distance from the buccal surface of the mandibular tooth to the buccal surface of the maxillary tooth.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
JFLS-8
JFLS-8 (Jaw Functional Limitation Scale - 8) according to DC/TMD axis II to evaluate the level of mandibular function limitation in the past 30 days. The patient will be instructed to answer the questionnaire: in case the patient avoids the activity completely because it is too difficult to do, the patient will circle '10'. If the patient avoids an activity not for pain or difficulty, he/ she will leave this section blank. Activities include: chewing hard foods, chewing chicken, eating soft foods without chewing, opening mouth wide enough to drink from a cup, swallowing, yawning, speaking, laughing.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
GAD-7
General anxiety symptoms were assessed using the 7-item scale from the Patient Health Questionnaire (GAD-7). The GAD-7 asks for anxiety symptoms during the past month on a 1 ('not at all') to 3 ('more than half of the days') rating scale (range 7-21). Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
PHQ-9
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a depression assessment form. Patients answer questions consisting of 9 items. Responses will be scored as follows: none: 0 points; several days: 1 point; more than half of the days of the week: 2 points; almost every day: 3 points. Add the total score of the answers to evaluate the severity according to the following scale: 0-4 points: normal; 5-9 points: mild; 10-14 points: average; 15-19 points: quite severe; 20-27 points: severe.
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
OBC
Oral behaviors checklist (OBC) is to determine the presence of parafunctional behaviors. The score is calculated by summing the validation scores of the corresponding items. Response options are scored 0-4 for each item. Based on a comparison of people with chronic TMDs to people without TMDs, scores of 0-16 are normal, while scores of 17-24 occur twice as often in people with TMDs, and scores of 25-62 occur 17 times more often. Acting as a risk factor for TMDs, a score between 25-62 contributes to the onset of TMDs
Time frame: Repeated-measures design with six assessment time points: baseline (pre-treatment), and follow-ups at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.