Red Light Therapy for TMJ: Laser for Jaw Pain, the Evidence

Jaw pain from the temporomandibular joint, usually called TMJ or TMD, can make eating, talking and even sleeping uncomfortable. Laser and red light therapy have been tested for it in more than 20 clinical trials. This guide sets out what those trials found, where the evidence is stronger and weaker, and how a short course of THOR laser can sit alongside self-care and physiotherapy.

Chronic joint pain is one of the approved uses of THOR devices in the UK, and the jaw joint is a joint. A targeted THOR laser session is £80 for 30 minutes at our Chiswick clinic. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.

Quick answer

Several small placebo-controlled trials found that low-level laser aimed at the jaw joint reduced pain and made it easier to open the mouth, and one trial found it eased pain faster than ibuprofen. Results are less consistent for jaw pain that comes mainly from the chewing muscles. A review that pooled 14 trials found clearer gains in mouth opening and jaw movement than in pain. Self-care comes first, and laser is best seen as an add-on that may help some people.

Joint pain or muscle pain?

TMJ problems come from the joint itself, the chewing muscles around it, or both. Joint problems often cause clicking, grating or pain right in front of the ear, and some people have wear in the joint (osteoarthritis) or a displaced disc. Muscle problems usually cause aching in the cheeks and temples, often linked with clenching or grinding. The difference matters, because the laser trials found clearer results for the joint than for the muscles. Our guide on how to cure TMJ covers symptoms and self-care in more detail.

What the trials found

Pain in the jaw joint

• 2010 trial, Clinical Journal of Pain. 99 people with a displaced disc or osteoarthritis in the jaw joint had superpulsed laser, ibuprofen tablets or a sham laser. Pain was lower in the laser group than in both other groups from the fifth day to the end of the study, and mouth opening and side-to-side movement were better one month after treatment.
• 2007 trial, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 61 people had 830 nm laser at one of two doses and 19 had an almost inactive dose. Both real doses reduced pain more than the placebo dose, with no difference between the two doses, and the effect was most marked in people whose pain was long-standing.
• 2010 trial, Brazilian Dental Journal. 40 people had 830 nm laser or placebo over the jaw joint twice a week for four weeks. Pain improved more with real laser, and jaw movement was better than placebo 30 days after treatment.
• 2012 trial, Cranio. 45 people with problems inside the joint had one of two laser doses or placebo, ten sessions over five weeks. Both laser groups gained more jaw movement and had less pain on pressure, and the placebo group did not.

Pain in the jaw muscles

• 2014 trial, Lasers in Medical Science. 20 people with muscle-type TMD had 810 nm laser or placebo three times a week for four weeks. Pain and mouth opening improved in the laser group, but the difference between the laser and placebo groups was not statistically significant.
• 2010 trial, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 40 people with jaw muscle pain had ten laser sessions or wore a bite splint day and night for three months. Both groups improved by a similar amount in pain, tenderness and jaw movement.

Reviews of many trials

• 2003 review, Australian Journal of Physiotherapy. 11 placebo-controlled trials with 565 people treated the capsule of the knee, jaw or small spinal joints at set doses. Pain was about 30 points lower on a 100-point scale with active laser, though the trials varied a lot.
• 2015 review, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 14 randomised trials with 454 people. Pain relief with laser was not clearly better than placebo, but mouth opening and jaw movement improved more with laser. The authors called the effect on pain limited and asked for better trials.

Red or infrared light?

Two small trials compared different light. In one, each side of the face of 19 people had either red or infrared laser, and both sides improved for up to six months, with infrared slightly ahead at six months (Cranio, 2014). In another, 30 people had red LED, infrared LED or infrared laser, and all three groups improved by a similar amount (Lasers in Medical Science, 2015). Neither trial had a placebo group, so they cannot show how much of the change came from the light. For more studies, see our red light therapy research library.

Self-care comes first

Most TMJ problems settle with simple self-care. The NHS advises eating softer food, avoiding chewing gum and wide yawning, applying warmth or a wrapped ice pack, gently massaging the jaw muscles and taking ordinary painkillers for a short time. Your dentist may suggest a mouth guard if you grind your teeth at night. Physiotherapy can help the jaw and neck muscles, and our TMJ jaw pain page explains the options at our clinic.

Laser can sit alongside that plan. Some people use it to ease pain while the jaw settles and while they work on clenching, posture and stress.

What a THOR laser course looks like

Your first visit starts with a check of your symptoms, your medicines and any treatment you have already had. You wear protective eyewear, and your practitioner places the laser probe over set points around the jaw joint, in front of the ear, and over any tender muscles. Most people feel nothing or gentle warmth. Trials commonly used two or three sessions a week for three to five weeks. We agree a short course with you, review it, and stop if it is not helping.

Cost of laser therapy for jaw pain

At Omnia in Chiswick, a THOR laser session is £80 for 30 minutes. For pain in one area such as the jaw, the targeted laser is usually a better fit than a full-body session. A NovoTHOR full-body session is £70 for 20 minutes, and the Omnia Red membership gives eight NovoTHOR sessions a month for £225. Read NovoTHOR vs THOR laser to compare.

Who should take care

Laser therapy is generally well tolerated. Tell us before treatment if you are pregnant, take medicines that make the skin sensitive to light, have epilepsy triggered by light, or have a history of cancer. Treatment is not given over an area of active cancer or over a new lump or pain that has not been assessed by a doctor or dentist, and you always wear the eye protection provided. Read is red light therapy safe for more.

When to get help

Call 999 straight away if jaw pain comes with chest pain, pain spreading to the arm, shortness of breath or sweating, as these can be signs of a heart attack.

Get same-day advice from your GP or NHS 111 if your jaw locks open or shut, you cannot eat or drink, or you are over 50 with new jaw pain when chewing together with headaches or changes in your vision.

See your dentist or GP if jaw pain has not improved after a few weeks of self-care, keeps coming back, or there is swelling or fever.

Frequently asked questions

Does red light therapy work for TMJ?

Several small placebo-controlled trials found laser aimed at the jaw joint reduced pain and improved mouth opening. A review of 14 trials found clearer gains in jaw movement than in pain, so results vary. Self-care and physiotherapy remain the main treatments.

Is laser therapy good for jaw pain from clenching?

Pain from clenching usually comes from the chewing muscles. Trials in muscle-type jaw pain are mixed: one found laser was about as good as a bite splint, while a placebo-controlled trial found no clear difference between real and sham laser. Reducing clenching is the most important step.

How many laser sessions do I need for TMJ?

Trials commonly used two or three sessions a week for three to five weeks, often eight to twelve sessions in total. We agree a short course with you and review your pain and jaw movement along the way.

Can I use a red light device at home for TMJ?

The trials used clinical lasers at set doses, applied by trained practitioners. Many home devices do not state their dose, so the results cannot be assumed to apply. Keep any light away from your eyes.

Laser therapy for jaw pain in Chiswick

Our clinic is at 8 to 9 Bedford Corner, The Avenue, Chiswick W4 1LZ, close to Turnham Green station, on bus routes 94, E3 and 272. Limited parking is available on request when booking. Our physiotherapists and acupuncturists work in the same building, so laser sessions can be planned around your jaw exercises and other care.

Read more about low level laser therapy in London, red light therapy for joint pain, or explore red light therapy in Chiswick.

Book THOR laser in Chiswick: £80 for 30 minutes. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have any of the warning signs above, seek medical attention.