Avaliação do efeito do laser de baixa intensidade em adolescentes com disfunção temporomandibular: estudo controlado, randomizado, cego

Abstract

Numerous problems can involve the temporomandibular joint and its structures, suggesting a diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low intensity laser on pain, mandibular movements and occlusal contacts in adolescents with temporomandibular disorder. Adolescents between 14 and 23 years, of both genders were evaluated. For research and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder, the clinical examination and questionnaire of Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders was performed, followed evaluation of tenderness of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles and visual analog scale and recording of the distribution of occlusal contacts using the T -Scan III ®. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: treatment and placebo. Twelve sessions of laser therapy and placebo were conducted and, after the last session, the revaluations were performed. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check the adherence of the results to the normal curve and the Paired t-test was used to comparison between pre and post-treatment. . For all analyzes we used the Statistical Package for Social Science ( SPSS ) 15.0 for Windows and was adopted significance level of p < 0.05 .It was concluded that there was no statistically significant difference between the variables pain, range of motion and distribution of occlusal contacts after treatment with low intensity laser therapy.