Effect of oral exercises and photobiomodulation therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with mandible fractures: randomized double-blind clinical trial

Mandible fractures compromise stomatognathic functions, requiring rehabilitation. Evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBM) associated with oral exercises for rehabilitation of patients with mandible fractures. In this randomized clinical trial, we compared PBM with PBM sham in 14 adults with mandibular fractures who underwent surgical intervention. The sessions were performed 24 h and 48 h after surgical procedure, and weekly for 4 weeks after hospital discharge. Both groups performed oral exercises after each PBM session. Restriction of food consistencies, mandibular mobility, pain, and facial sensitivity measured before and after the surgical procedure were the outcomes evaluated, one and 3 months after surgery. Maximum interincisal distances (MID), exercise pain, and restriction of food consistencies were also evaluated during each week of intervention. Both groups showed normal MID (> 35 mm) and food consistencies consumed 1 month after the surgical procedure, with no significant differences between them. Individuals in the PBM group had less pain response to exercise during all the weeks of intervention than the sham group (p < 0.05). The patients presented a reduction in the painful response in MID and mandibular laterality movements 1 month after surgery compared to the preoperative period. In contrast, there was an improvement in laterality in the sham group only 3 months postoperatively and persistent pain in MID. There was no significant difference in facial sensitivity within and between groups during follow-up. The performance of oral exercises associated with PBM effectively facilitated the early rehabilitation of oral functions, with significant gains in pain management.