Recruiting

Photobiomodulation

Sponsor:

University of Florida

Code:

NCT05916235

Conditions

Pain Related to TMD

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

THOR® laser system

Study Details

Brief summary:

Photobiomodulation (PBM), is FDA-approved for temporary relief of muscle and joint pain, but there is no indication for TMD. Our goal in this study is to conduct a clinical trial of multimodal PBM for TMD pain. This study will be a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized trial testing the efficacy of PBM for pain related to TMD.

Conditions

Pain Related to TMD

Study ID

NCT05916235

Start date

Feb 8, 2024

Status verified date

Oct, 2025

Completion date

Oct, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Oct, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female, aged 18 years and older
  • Meets the CATI pre-screening criteria during pre-screening visit \[participant-reported facial pain for at least 3 months and an average pain intensity rating for the week preceding CATI of ≥30 on a numerical rating scale (NRS, 0-100)\].
  • Willing to provide signed and dated informed consent
  • Willing to to comply with all study procedures and to be available for the duration of the study
  • Meets diagnostic criteria for TMD (Masticatory Muscle disorder, 1 A: Myalgia) during Visit 0
  • Completes a minimum of 4 of 7 daily symptom diary (DSD) entries prior to Visit 1 (Randomization visit), and the weekly average pain score on this DSD is ≥30 of 100

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active rheumatologic disease
  • Has a medical condition, laboratory finding, or physical exam finding (e.g., renal failure or dialysis, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, or uncontrolled seizures) that precludes participation as determined by the investigator
  • Initiated occlusal appliance therapy within 30 days prior to CATI
  • Initiated non-pharmacologic therapy, such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and/or TENS within 30 days prior to CATI
  • Is in active orthodontic treatment
  • Received any injection therapy (e.g., tender or trigger point injections, steroid injections) for the management of pain within 14 days prior to the CATI
  • Has a history of facial trauma or orofacial surgery within 6 weeks prior to CATI
  • Has a history of psychiatric hospitalization within one year prior to CATI
  • Currently pregnant or lactating
  • Has a known hypersensitivity to laser therapy
  • Currently being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  • Is undergoing treatment with another investigational drug or treatment initiated within 30 days prior to the Screening and Baseline Visit
  • Initiated a new daily prescribed or over-the counter medication for the management of pain within 30 days prior to Screening and Baseline Visit.
  • Anything that would place the individual at increased risk or preclude the individual's full compliance with or completion of the study as determined by the investigator

Study Design

Enrollment

130 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Experimental: Active PBM

PBM has been used clinically in the treatment of musculoskeletal and other pain conditions for over 30 years. Despite the low quality of the existing evidence, PBM has been increasingly used in other countries for the treatment of TMD. However, in the US PBM is not widely used for the treatment of TMD pain. Due to the multifactorial nature of chronic TMD pain, we propose that a multimodal PBM protocol targeting multiple pathophysiological mechanisms will be the optimal approach for PBM implementation in patients with TMD.

sham comparator: Sham PBM

When applying PBM therapy, there are some heating elements in the treatment device, and most of the sham treatment devices available do not offer this feature, which increases the likelihood of unblinding both the patient and the interventionist. The THOR® LX2.3 PBM machine includes this new feature, such that the sham condition mimics the heating activity of the active treatment.

Interventions

THOR® laser system

We chose the THOR® laser system given because their active treatment arm uses both coherent laser and monochromatic LED light. Therefore, we will use three types of active probes in this investigation including, A) Single Laser 810 NM 200 mw; B) Laser Cluster of 810 NM equivalent to 1 WATT and; C) LED Cluster, 34 X 660nm at 10 mw and 35 850nm, 30mw 1390mw total. As detailed in Table 3. We propose to use these three PBM probes in concert for the treatment of TMD pain. Laser A (Single Diode Laser) is designed for isolated trigger points and superficial muscles. Laser B (Cluster Laser) is designed for a more diffuse treatment area,targeting analgesia, anti-inflammatory, and deep tissue repair. Laser C (LED Cluster) is purportedly designed for the presence of diffuse inflammation.

Primary outcome measure

  • Pain Level Change with PBM treatment using a Numerical Rating Scale [ Time Frame: Through study completion; about 6 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Selenia Rubio, MD

352-273-5590srubio7@ufl.edu

Eric Weber, CCRP

352-273-7802ebweber@ufl.edu

Locations

University of Florida

Recruiting

Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32610

Contacts

Selenia Rubio, MD

352-273-5590srubio7@ufl.edu

Eric Weber, CCRP

352-273-7802ebweber@ufl.edu

Principal Investigator:

Margarete Ribeiro-Dasilva, DDS, MS, Ph.D

More Information

Sponsor

University of Florida

Last update posted

Oct 24, 2025

Last verified

Oct, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Florida on 2025-10-24.