{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T22:31:11Z","timestamp":1791844271678,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,9]],"date-time":"2024-09-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1725840000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) express a condition derived from a broad spectrum of etiological factors and clinical manifestations. Many treatment options have been developed for TMDs; nevertheless, conservative and non-invasive approaches ought to be prioritized. Laser therapy is an effective treatment for pain management due to its non-invasive nature and capacity for tissue regeneration. This review aimed at bringing an overview of the present evidence regarding the efficiency of laser therapy on myofascial or temporomandibular joint disorders pain. Methods: The search was conducted in four electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, of studies published between January 1997 and January 2023. The following terms have been extensively searched: \u201claser treatment\u201d, pain management\u201d, \u201ctemporomandibular joint disorders\u201d, \u201cmasseter muscle pain\u201d, \u201cpterygoid muscle pain\u201d, and \u201ctemporal muscle pain\u201d. The inclusion criteria were original papers, available in full text, and written in English. Cohen\u2019s Kappa coefficient was used to assess the inter-rater reliability for article selection. The methodological quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute\u2019s quality assessment tool for before-after studies with no control group. Results: Out of 846 identified records, 7 studies were included, of which 5 were randomized controlled trials. The inter-rater reliability for article selection showed an almost perfect agreement (Cohen\u2019s Kappa = 0.832, p &lt; 0.001). The protocol of laser application was not standardized; the laser wavelength ranged from 633 to 940 nm, with a power output range from 25 to 1600 mW. The number of sessions varied from 3 to 12, with a frequency of application from 1 time per week to 3 times per week. All studies reported pain reduction after laser therapy. Conclusions: Laser therapy is an efficient method to treat TMDs related to muscle pain. To accomplish the desired results, a standard procedure must be followed; however, the protocol is still not fully designed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13175327","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,9]],"date-time":"2024-09-09T05:06:06Z","timestamp":1725858366000},"page":"5327","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Effectiveness of Laser Therapy in Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Pain"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4209-9884","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Smaranda","family":"Buduru","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials Department, Iuliu Ha\u021bieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 32 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Denisa Maria","family":"Oprea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials Department, Iuliu Ha\u021bieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 32 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manuela-Maria","family":"Manziuc","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials Department, Iuliu Ha\u021bieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 32 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4218-8622","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniel-Corneliu","family":"Leucu\u021ba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Ha\u021bieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8800-4935","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oana","family":"Alm\u0103\u0219an","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials Department, Iuliu Ha\u021bieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 32 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"930","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2008.72.8.tb04569.x","article-title":"TMJ disorders: Future innovations in diagnostics and therapeutics","volume":"72","author":"Wadhwa","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. 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