INTRODUCTION: It is understood by temporomandibular dysfunction as a collective term that involves a large number of clinical problems affecting the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated structures. Among the major signs and symptoms there are pain in the masticatory muscles or TMJ, joint sounds, limitation of opening, gingival recession, inadequate occlusion, hearing disorders, headache, tenderness in the whole musculature of the stomatognathic system and cervical cancer. OBJECTIVES: To study the influence of low intensity laser therapy (LLI) in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a systematic review. We consulted the following databases: BIREME, MEDLINE, PubMed, Science Direct and LILACS. The search terms used were "temporomandibular laser therapy" and "ATM laser treatment", in English and Portuguese. No search limits were established. During the search conducted by two independent reviewers, 1.344 articles were found, and after application of the exclusion criteria, 12 articles were selected for analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 12 selected articles, only in one of them it was not observed any improvement in the painful TMJ because of the different types of TMJ. CONCLUSION: Despite the satisfactory results of laser use in reducing symptomatic pain in TMJ, the use of its parameters for each case is controversial, so we suggest that the foundation for other studies that these gaps may be filled with the larger goal of promoting a better quality of life for people who suffer any inconvenience in the TMJ region.
Semiconductor lasers; Temporomandibular joint disorders; Physical therapy modalities