Cold Laser Therapy for TMJ/TMD

Dr. Mike Pilar, DDS now offers the non-invasive cold laser treatment for the pain of headaches, migraines and TMD using the Apollo 3000 mW laser system – the most powerful, FDA cleared, Class IV cold laser on the market.

Producing pure infrared energy, cold laser treatment provides rapid treatment times of 1 to 2 minutes. Phenomenal results can be achieved when used in combination with the deprogramming muscle orthotic and ETPS (direct current neurostimulation).

How does it work?

Cold laser therapy produces a beam of light that is applied over the injured area to stimulate healing. There is no pain with the treatment. When laser light is absorbed by a living tissue, it triggers biological reactions in the cells. Chemical substances are produced, released and carried by the blood and lymphatic flow to other parts of the system. In this way the effects of cold laser light may not be only local, but can also achieve wide systematic physiological responses, including reduction in pain by causing production of natural pain killers called endorphins. Inflammation is reduced by suppressing inflammatory enzymes that create swelling, redness, pain and heat. It can also enhance lymphatic drainage, which increases circulation and speeds healing.

Cold laser therapy helps release tight muscles that create chronic pain, joint problems and decreased mobility and promotes faster bone repair by stimulating fibroblastic and osteoblastic proliferation.

How does the Cold Laser Therapy compare to other laser therapies?

The Apollo Cold Laser, a low power, “soft,” “cool,” or “cold” laser, has longer wavelengths that promote rapid reduction of pain, accelerate healing time, and accelerate growth and repair.

Cold lasers are called “cold” because they do not induce any temperature change in the body’s tissues. High power “hot” lasers have shorter wavelengths, which have catabolic effects that can deliberately destroy tissue in cauterizing and surgical applications. The cold laser has been called “The Therapy” of the 21st century. In more than 2,500 scientific research studies on laser therapy, there is verification of the clinical value of laser therapy with no recorded negative side effects. This versatile tool is totally safe, painless and medication-free, non-toxic, and with virtually no negative side effects.

Cold laser therapy has stimulative effects rather than destructive ones. It compliments the orthotic deprogrammer protocol of treatment for TMD. Clinical applications of the cold laser have included acute and chronic pain reduction from many etiologies, inflammation reduction, enhanced tissue healing, and cell regeneration. Extraordinary results when applied to head, neck and shoulder regions of the body. The results have shown very rapid pain reduction and accelerated recovery times, far exceeding conventional methods.

Benefits of cold laser therapy

• Non-Invasive
• More than 90% Effective
• Completely Safe and Painless
• No Side Effects
• Non-Toxic
• Very Safe
• Reduces Need for Surgery

Therapeutic Laser Biological Effects:

• Rapid Cell Growth — Laser light accelerates cellular reproduction and growth
• Faster Wound Healing — Laser light stimulates fibroblast development and accelerates collagen synthesis in damaged tissue.
• Increased Metabolic Activity — Higher outputs of specific enzymes, greater oxygen and food particle loads for blood cells and thus greater production of the basic food source for cells, Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP).
• Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation — Laser light reduces the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from: cuts, scratches, burns or post surgery.
• Anti-Inflammatory Action — Laser light reduces swelling caused by bruising or inflammation of joints to give enhanced joint mobility.
• Increased Vascular Activity — Laser light induces temporary vasodilation increasing blood flow to damaged areas.
• Stimulated Nerve Function — Slow recovery of nerve function in damaged tissue can result in “dead” limbs or numb areas. Laser light speeds the process of nerve cell reconnection to bring the numb areas back to life

Treating TMJ/TMD with Cold Laser Therapy

Because of its ability to penetrate deeply and prompt high levels of photobiostimulation in a relatively short time period, the Apollo 3000 mW laser system can be very effective in treating TMJ/TMD.

Most often, laser treatments that are unsuccessful can be attributed to insufficient dosage or power levels, wavelengths that aren’t long enough, and nonscientific procedural methods. These factors sometimes come into play when a manufacturer chooses to adapt their treatment protocols to fit their existing equipment, rather than adjusting their equipment to fit the proper treatment protocols.

For laser energy to achieve optimum results in the treatment of TMJ/TMD, the patient must receive the appropriate measures of treatment time, power, and wavelength.

• ‘Power’ refers to the amount of laser energy being delivered to the patient.
• ‘Wavelength’ determines how deep the laser energy penetrates. Deeper penetration means a better environment for photobiostimulation.
• Note: ‘Continuous-Wave Mode’ allows the laser therapy to work more effectively.

In most circumstances, the proper dosage can be calculated through mathematical analysis of factors including energy conversion rate, tissue density, and size of the affected area. However, laser therapy is most effective when the practitioner uses his or her medical intuition in conjunction with scientific calculation.

Further Explanation of Laser Therapy/Low Intensity Laser Therapy

The amount of laser energy that is necessary to prompt photobiostimulation differs from patient to patient, but every patient has an individual threshold for energy absorption at which point cellular activity ceases to increase. This plateau effect leads many to believe that it is in fact impossible for overdose on low intensity laser energy..

As a pain treatment, the therapeutic effects of low intensity laser therapy are without equal. Not only has this approach proven to be impressively effective, but it also minimizes the side effects that often accompany other therapies. Low intensity laser therapy has provided relief for countless patients when all other treatment options have been exhausted unsuccessfully. It should be noted that LILT is a carefully developed treatment protocol, not a quick fix for pain sufferers. It does, however, expedite the healing process and provide faster pain relief than other options.

British hospitals are known to treat post-op patients with low intensity laser therapy in their recovery units. Related studies have determined that the healing process is faster in these patients and leaves less scar tissue. These patients encounter less pain, and as a result, are less reliant on pain medication.

A major advantage to low intensity laser therapy is that there is no risk of overdose because there aren’t any severe side effects to speak of. It is an invaluable treatment tool that facilitates healthy biochemical change with the purpose of expedited healing and pain relief.