A Comparative study of low-level laser therapy combined with drugs versus drug therapy alone in the management of Myogenic TMJ Pain
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1
Laser Institute for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq
2
Master Student, Laser Institute for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq
3
Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Al-Turath University, College of Dentistry, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq
Submission date: 2025-12-07
Final revision date: 2026-04-21
Acceptance date: 2026-07-10
Publication date: 2026-08-30
Corresponding author
Sakina Mohamed Saeed
Laser Institute for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq
Wiadomości Lekarskie 2026;(8):1752-1759
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ABSTRACT
Aim: To compare the effect of low-level laser therapy combined with pharmacotherapy (naproxen + orphenadrine with paracetamol (myogesic)) and pharmacotherapy
alone in treating myofascial pain related to temporomandibular joint.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four participants with myofascial pain related to TMJ diagnosed according to diagnostic criteria DC/TMJ are randomly
divided into two groups (n=12); Group1 received naproxen 500mg twice a day and myogesic three times a day for 21 days, Group 2 received Low-Level Laser
Therapy for nine sessions three sessions a week with a diode laser with dual-wavelength with the same drugs as group1. Measures of myofascial pain during
the function were evaluated at baseline, after 10 days, at the end of treatment, and 3 months after the end of treatments using the visual analog scale VAS,
which has scores from zero (no pain) to ten (sever pain) also maximum mouth opening was measured in each session.
Results: VAS scores decreased in both groups but significantly more in Low-Level Laser Therapy with pharmacotherapy group at 10 days, 21 days, and 3 months
(p < 0.05). Maximum mouth opening highly improved in Group 2 with significantly more significant gains in Low-Level Laser Therapy group at all follow-up
points except baseline (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: These results indicate that Low-Level Laser Therapy with pharmacotherapy was more effective than pharmacological therapy in decreasing pain
and improving jaw function in patients with TMJ-related myogenic pain.