OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of dental treatments and physical therapy in reducing pain in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of ten patients (mean age 34.3 years) with TMD. Used as instruments for data collection index clinical severity for TMD, visual analog scale for pain (VAS) and the Brazilian version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (Br-MPQ). Five patients underwent physical therapy, with 10 sessions (three weeks) application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Tens), ultrasound, massage and stretching, and five patients underwent dental treatment with pharmacological procedures and the making of a plate miorelaxante, used for three weeks. RESULTS: Comparing the mean daily results before and after physical therapy, decreased significantly (p < 0.05) of pain in 69.3%. Analyzing the initial and final pain, there was a decrease of 96.5% in physical therapy (p < 0.05) and 30.9% in dental treatment (p > 0.05). In the Br-MPQ the mean reduction in physical therapy, by category, was 92.5% in the sensory category, 80% in affective, 80% in the subjective evaluation and 92% in mixed and dental treatment was 40.1% in the sensory category, 51.9% in the affective, 34% in the subjective evaluation and 55.9% in mixed. As for intensity, physical therapy decreased from 83.6% (p < 0.05) and in dentistry was 43.75 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both treatments proved to be positive for the relief of painful symptoms in patients with TMD physiotherapy in this case a recommended treatment, with significant improvement in short-term pain.
Temporomandibular joint; Physiotherapy; Dentistry
