OBJECTIVE

The present double-blind randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the efficacy of conservative treatment and articular lavage, either alone or combined, to reduce joint pain and improve mandibular opening.

STUDY DESIGN

The sample consisted of patients presenting with limited mouth opening and joint pain. The diagnosis was made according to the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders guideline and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Sixty patients were selected and randomly allocated to 4 groups of 15 patients each with different treatments: group A (conservative), group B (conservative + medication), group C (arthrocentesis), and group D (arthrocentesis + medication). The groups were compared in terms of maximal interincisal opening and pain.

RESULTS

The average age of the patients was 34.17 ± 13.1 years, 88.1% were women, 72.9% had internal derangement, 54% had joint sounds, and 55.9% presented with locking. Clinical improvement was noted in all parameters compared with baseline in all groups (P < .005), but no significant differences were observed when the groups were compared (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both arthrocentesis and conservative modalities were efficient treatments to reduce joint pain and increase mandibular opening.