Low-Level Laser Therapy and Temporomandibular Joint

I admit that I appreciate the efforts made by Iranian researchers on tinnitus: they are very pragmatic, very focused on experiences, and cross all aspects of this condition. Even if it is not always conclusive, it has the merit of being done.

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Otalgic Pain and Tinnitus Related to Temporomandibular Joint

• Source:
  
  Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences . 2018 Supplement, Vol. 9, p37-37. 1p.
  
  
• Author(s):
  
  Soheilipour, Fatemeh; Shirani, Amir Mansour; Soheilipour, Saied; Moghareabed, Ahmad

• Abstract:
  
  Background:
  
  Temporomandibular disorders are some of the most common reasons for patients to attend dental clinics. According to the complex anatomy of the temporomandibular joint and its proximity to ear, joint disorders have been known as some the major reasons for aural symptoms such as tinnitus, otalgia, ear fullness and vertigo. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in treating tinnitus referred from temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
  
  Methods:
  
  This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Patients with subjective tinnitus and otalgia as their main symptoms were recruited into the study from outpatient clinics in Isfahan private ear, nose and throat clinics. After ENT examination, clinical tests according to each patient's conditions, patients with tinnitus and otalgia due to Temporomandibular joint were studied. The recruited patients were randomized into a laser group (16 subjects) and control group (17 subjects), using the off-mode laser for the second group. In the laser group, patients were treated with LT-R laser (Behsaz Gostar Company, Iran), for 4 weeks and 12 sessions. Patients received laser in the outer ear canal with a wavelength of 660 nm, 40 mW, 0 Hz, for 200 seconds with a special acupuncture probe at a dose of 2.9 J/cm2. Besides, patients received laser with 100 mW, 0 Hz, and 8 J/cm2, without probe, directly and almost perpendicular to the temporomandibular joint and sensitive muscular regions. The same protocol was followed for the control group, but the laser was in off-mode. The tinnitus intensity was evaluated by THI (tinnitus handicap inventory) and VAS (visual analog scale) before therapy commencement, immediately after session 6, after the completion of session 12 of the therapy and also after one month follow up. Parried T-test, Wilcoxon, man-Whitney and Friedman tests were used for data analysis.
  
  Results:
  
  Amongst 33 patients between 15 to 60, with a mean age of 38.94±11.86 in the laser group was, and 37.12±11.60 in the control group, the study results showed that in laser group, both THI and VAS figures significantly decreased (P = 0.004). However, in the control group, pain intensity and tinnitus have not shown any significant difference in the 4 time spans (P = 0.641). All patients were compared at the four phases. Although results in all four phases were significant, they have shown that the mean figures of both tests after one-month follow-up have reached scores close to the commencement of treatment.
  
  Conclusion:
  
  The study has shown that low-level laser therapy has had useful and advantageous effects on patients who suffer from referral tinnitus and otalgia. But the long-term effects of laser treatment are suspect.

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