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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07624539

Device for Alleviating Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the investigational BTL-043 device in alleviating Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain in adults aged 22 years and older. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the BTL-043 device effectively reduce TMJ pain? Does the treatment improve jaw mobility (mandibular range of motion) and reduce the impact of TMJ disorders on daily activities? Is the treatment comfortable and safe for participants?

Participants will:

Receive four 20-minute treatments with the BTL-043 laser, spaced 2 to 10 days apart.

Attend follow-up clinic visits 1 month and 3 months after their final treatment.

Complete questionnaires about their pain levels (Visual Analogue Scale), daily activities (TMD Disability Index), and treatment comfort and satisfaction.

Have their jaw mobility (mandibular range of motion) measured

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Key information

Conditions

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Craniomandibular Disorders Facial Pain Jaw Diseases Joint Diseases Mandibular Diseases Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Myofascial Pain Syndromes Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Stomatognathic Diseases Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome

Age range

22 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

McCreight Progressive Dentistry, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults seeking alleviation of pain in the treatment area
  • Age 22 years and older
  • Voluntarily signed an informed consent form
  • Subject is willing to comply with study instructions, to return to the clinic for the required visits
  • Willingness to adhere to and continue current pain management plan
  • Subjects willing and able to maintain their regular (pre-procedure) diet, exercise and therapy regimen without affecting significant change during study participation
  • Subject willing and able to abstain from partaking in any new treatments other than this study procedure to treat TMJ pain
  • Women of child-bearing potential* are required to use birth control measures during the whole duration of the study *Women of childbearing potential are defined as any female who has experienced menarche and who is NOT permanently sterile or postmenopausal. Postmenopausal is defined as 12 consecutive months with no menses without an alternative medical cause.

Exclusion criteria

  • Major systemic diseases - e.g. uncontrolled Diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Current pregnancy
  • Photosensitivity, medications affecting sensitivity to light
  • Tattoos or other higher pigmented regions in the treated area
  • Corticosteroids or injections of the treated area within the last 3 months, long-term corticosteroids use
  • Anticoagulant therapy, bleeding disorders
  • Hemorrhage in the treated area
  • Application over the thyroid or other endocrine glands
  • Application within 4 to 6 months after radiotherapy
  • Known or suspected malignancy, history of cancer or any type of malignancy
  • Febrile conditions, serious illness, chronic infection
  • Epilepsy
  • Sensory loss in the treatment area
  • Deep vein thrombosis

Treatment and study plan

Treatment with BTL-043

Device

Four (4) treatment sessions will be applied to the subjects' temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area using the BTL-043 system (a Class IV laser operating at a 1064 nm wavelength). Each treatment session lasts 20 minutes and is spaced 2 to 10 days apart.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at 3 Months

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months

    The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a self-reported measure used to assess the intensity of TMJ-related pain experienced by the participants in the treatment area. Participants rate their perceived pain level on a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 10. On this scale, 0 is equivalent to "no pain" and 10 indicates the "worst possible pain". The baseline score is compared to the score collected at the 3-month follow-up visit. A negative change from baseline (a decrease in the VAS score) indicates a reduction in pain intensity and an improvement in the participant's condition over time.

  2. Change from Baseline in the Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) Disability Index Score at 3 Months

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months

    The Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) Disability Index is a self-reported questionnaire used to assess the impact of TMJ disorders on a participant's daily activities, such as talking, chewing, and sleeping. The questionnaire consists of 10 categories, each containing 5 statements. Each category is scored on a scale from 0 to 4, where 0 represents no limitation and 4 represents maximum restriction due to pain. The overall score is calculated by summing the scores of all 10 items, resulting in a total possible score ranging from 0 to 40. On this scale, a total score of 0 indicates no disability and 40 indicates extreme disability. A negative change from baseline (a decrease in the total score) indicates a reduction in disability and an improvement in the participant's condition over time.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in Mandibular Range of Motion at 3 Months

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months

    Mandibular range of motion is measured objectively in millimeters (mm) using a specialized scale. Two measurements are taken: "comfort" (opening the mouth to a comfortable level without pain) and "active" (opening the mouth as wide as possible despite the presence of pain). A positive change from baseline (an increase in the measured mm) indicates an improvement in jaw mobility.

  2. Subject Satisfaction Assessed by the Subject Satisfaction & Quality of Life Questionnaire

    Time frame: 3 months post treatment

    Subject satisfaction with the treatment outcomes and its impact on quality of life is assessed using a 13-item self-reported questionnaire. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates "strongly disagree" and 5 indicates "strongly agree". Higher scores represent greater treatment satisfaction and improvement in the subject's quality of life.

  3. Therapy Comfort Assessed by the Therapy Comfort Questionnaire

    Time frame: Immediately after the final (fourth) treatment

    Therapy comfort is assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Participants indicate their overall comfort on a 5-point Likert scale (where 1 is "strongly disagree" and 5 is "strongly agree" with the statement "I found the treatment comfortable"). Additionally, any pain experienced during treatment is rated on a Numerical Analogue Scale ranging from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst possible pain"). Lower pain scores and higher agreement scores indicate greater therapy comfort.

  4. Incidence of Treatment-related Adverse Events

    Time frame: From baseline up to 3 months post-treatment

    Overall safety is evaluated continuously by monitoring, assessing, and recording the occurrence and severity of any adverse events, side effects, or unanticipated problems throughout the course of the study

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

BTL Industries Ltd.

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of the BTL-043 Device in Alleviating Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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