ABSTRACT
This study compared the effects of LED therapy associated with occlusal splint (OS) on the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 70 TMD patients were randomly divided into six groups. The volunteers received the following treatments: Group 1 (G1) was the control and received only conventional therapy with OS; Group 2 (G2) was the placebo and received treatment with OS and therapy with LED (device turned off); Group 3 (G3) LED therapy (infrared,) once a week; Group 4 (G4) LED therapy (infrared) twice a week; Group 5 (G5) OS associated with LED (infrared) therapy (once a week); Group 6 (G6) received OS therapy plus infrared LED (two sessions per week). The patients were evaluated before, after, and 30 days after treatment. The pain intensity in masticatory system was recorded at each interval. The evaluation of the electromyographic signals (EMG) of the muscles (masseter and temporal) and blood lactate was performed before and after treatment. The associated groups presented better clinical results in relation to the control. The associated groups showed significant differences (p < 0.05) from control in the analysis of pain intensity and in decrease of the RMS value (EMG analysis). In the intragroup analysis, the volunteers in G6 exhibited a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in blood lactate. In conclusion, the association of LED therapy and OS presented superior results in relation to the isolated therapies, especially the protocol with two weekly sessions.
