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Laser acupuncture to reduce temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

The application of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to acupuncture points may produce effects similar to that of needle stimulation in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This systematic review was conducted according to the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and aimed to address clinical questions using the following strategy: Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO). A comprehensive literature search was performed upto April 26, 2023, across nine electronic databases (BVS, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Google Scholar) supplemented with gray literature. The risk of bias in randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials was assessed using two tools: risk-of-bias (RoB) 2 and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies—of Interventions (ROBINS-I). Meta-analysis involved the extraction of mean and standard deviation values for spontaneous pain and mouth opening levels. Seven studies were included in this review, all of which used LLLT. The applied wavelengths ranged from 690 to 810 nm without significant variations in light emission patterns. LLLT demonstrated a significant reduction in instantaneous pain levels (standard mean difference [SMD] = 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.09, 5.62; p < 0.003) and an improvement in instantaneous mouth opening ability (mean difference [SMD] = -7.15; 95% CI = -11.73, -2.58; p < 0.002), with low certainty of evidence. LLLT may alleviate symptoms in patients with TMD; however, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results because of protocol variations among studies and the limited number of studies included in the meta-analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Clinics, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP) – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Paôla Caroline da Silva Mira, Ana Cristina Soares Caruso França Biagini, Marília Goulardins Gomes & Maria Cristina Borsatto

  2. Department of Dental Materials and Prostheses, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP) – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rodrigo Galo

  3. Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP) – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Silmara Aparecida Milori Corona

Authors
  1. Paôla Caroline da Silva Mira
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  2. Ana Cristina Soares Caruso França Biagini
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Contributions

Paôla Caroline da Silva Mira: development and writing.

Ana Cristina Soares Caruso França Biagini: development and writing.

Marília Goulardins Gomes: development and writing.

Rodrigo Galo: development and writing.

Silmara Aparecida Milori Corona: development and revision.

Maria Cristina Borsatto: development and revision.

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Correspondence to Paôla Caroline da Silva Mira.

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da Silva Mira, P.C., Biagini, A.C.S.C.F., Gomes, M.G. et al. Laser acupuncture to reduce temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci 39, 66 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-024-03999-z

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