Evaluation of prolotherapy in comparison with occlusal splints in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint – a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy with that of occlusal splints in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. Patients and methods A total of 34 patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement classed as Wilkes stages II or III were recruited for the study, and were randomly divided into study and control groups with 17 patients each. The patients in these control and study groups were treated with splints and prolotherapy, respectively. Outcome parameters, such as pain, mouth opening, clicking and deviation, were assessed using the Helkimo clinical dysfunction index for a review period of 1 year. Results Nine patients in the study group had complete absence of pain, compared with only one patient in the control group. The results showed that patients who received prolotherapy demonstrated improvement in pain (p = 0.000), mouth opening (p = 0.032), and clicking (p = 0.000), but no significant difference in deviation was observed between the groups after 1 year (p = 0.862). Conclusion Prolotherapy was found to be superior in providing long-term clinical relief, with reduction in pain and clicking along with improved mouth opening.