Ross Hauser, MD, Danielle Matias, PA-C, Demi Foster, APRN

Prolotherapy is the injection of simple sugar, dextrose. The idea is that dextrose will cause a strengthening and rebuilding of the soft tissue holding the jaw in place. Strengthened soft tissue, i.e., ligaments, will stabilize the jaw joint, pull things back into place, and reduce degenerative disc and destructive joint forces in the jaw. In this article, we will discuss the research and clinical outcomes of this injection treatment and compare these treatments to other injections.

In December 2025, doctors writing in the Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (1) gave summary findings about the effectiveness of prolotherapy treatments for TMJ. In this summary the doctors found:

• Prolotherapy effective when TMJ symptoms are caused by ligamentous (ligament) laxity or subtle soft-tissue damage that are not amenable to other treatments.
• Patients with TMJ hypermobility disorders—such as recurrent subluxation or chronic dislocation caused by ligament weakness, would benefit from Prolotherapy as a “classic target population,” for these treatments. In these cases, “prolotherapy’s collagen-stimulating and ligament-tightening effects restore functional stability and reduce symptomatic clicking. “
• The ideal candidates for TMJ prolotherapy are those with chronic, refractory TMD symptoms—pain, limited motion, or instability—related to ligament, tendon, or mild osseous (bone disease) pathology who seek a minimally invasive treatment option. This includes cases of TMJ hypermobility, disc or capsular dysfunction, and mild-to-moderate degenerative disc disease.

A 2026 retrospective study in the Journal of oral and facial pain and headache (25) looked at 66 patients who had treatment-resistant temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD). The study found prolotherapy significantly reduced pain and improved jaw function. Patients received an average of 2.3 injections of either hypertonic dextrose or polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN – a regenerative medicine injection made from purified DNA fragments, usually derived from salmon). In the prolotherapy group, pain scores fell from 4.3 to 1.0 on a 10-point scale, while maximum mouth opening improved from 31 mm to 41 mm. Joint sounds, jaw deviation, and jaw deflection also improved significantly.

“Dextrose Prolotherapy is one of the most promising approaches in the management of TMD”

A March 2021 study in the Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery (2) writes:

“Dextrose Prolotherapy is one of the most promising approaches in the management of TMDs, especially in refractory (difficult) cases where other conservative management has failed.

(The researchers) conducted a study on 25 patients suffering from various TMJ disorders who were treated with Prolotherapy. . . Patients repeated the injections three times, at 2-week intervals, which totals four injection appointments over 6 weeks with a 3-month follow-up.

Results: There was an appreciable reduction in tenderness in TMJ and masticatory muscles with significant improvement in mouth opening. The effect of the treatment in improving clicking and deviation of TMJ was found to be statistically significant. There were no permanent complications.

“Intra-articular dextrose injection (Prolotherapy) resulted in substantial improvement in jaw pain, function, and maximal interincisal opening  . . .”

In March 2019, doctors tested this idea. Publishing in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings (3)  these doctors from the University of British Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the School of Medicine, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong announced these findings in their study to assess the LONG-TERM effectiveness of dextrose Prolotherapy injections in study participants with temporomandibular dysfunction.

Here is the research review:

• Forty-two participants (12 bilateral) meeting temporomandibular dysfunction criteria were randomized to
  • 3 monthly Prolotherapy injections (20% dextrose/0.2% lidocaine or 0.2% lidocaine) followed by as-needed dextrose/0.2% lidocaine injections through 1 year.
  • Primary and secondary outcome measures included a 0 to 10 Numerical Rating Scale score for facial pain and jaw dysfunction; maximal interincisal opening (MIO) measured in millimeters, percentage of joints with 50% or more change (improvement) in pain and function, and satisfaction.

RESULTS:

• Randomization produced a control group with:
  • more female participants
  • longer pain duration
  • and less maximal interincisal opening.
• Upon 3-month analysis, dextrose Prolotherapy group participants reported:
  • decreased jaw pain
  • less jaw dysfunction
  • and improved maximal interincisal opening.
• CONCLUSION: “Intra-articular dextrose injection (Prolotherapy) resulted in substantial improvement in jaw pain, function, and maximal interincisal opening (MIO) compared with masked control injection at 3 months; clinical improvements endured to 12 months. Satisfaction was high.”

Study – Dextrose injections (Prolotherapy): Clinically important and statistically significant improvement in pain and maximal jaw opening.

An August 2020 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (4) whose authors included noted Prolotherapy researchers, friends, and colleagues Kenneth Dean Reeves, MD and David Rabago, MD noted:

• Several intraarticular injections, including dextrose and lidocaine, are reported to reduce pain and dysfunction in temporomandibular dysfunction and increase maximal jaw opening; (the study’s) goal was to determine whether dextrose/lidocaine outperforms sterile water/lidocaine for temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD).

Patient profile:

• Patients with chronic (more than three months) moderate-to-severe (more than 6 on a scale of 10) jaw or facial pain meeting research-specific TMD criteria.
• Randomization of 29 participants (25 female, average age 47, youngest about 39, oldest about 56). Of the 29 patients, 14 had both sides of their jaw treated.

Patient treatments:

• Blinded intraarticular dextrose prolotherapy  (20% dextrose/0.2% lidocaine) versus intraarticular lidocaine (0.2% lidocaine in sterile water) at 0, 1, and 2 months.
• Participants were then unblinded and offered Prolotherapy by request for 9 additional months.

Outcomes:

• The patients were then asked to grade their pain and dysfunction on a Numerical Rating Scale (0-10 points) score. The outcome of “successful” treatment was measured by patients achieving more than 50% improvement in pain and dysfunction (0, 3, and 12 months).
• Secondary: Maximal interincisal opening (mouth opening).

Comparison between Prolotherapy vs. lidocaine

• Three-month pain and dysfunction improvements were similar between Prolotherapy and lidocaine, but more Prolotherapy-treated joints improved by more than 50% in pain.
• Mouth opening improved in both groups.
• The twelve-month analysis revealed that joints in the original dextrose Prolotherapy injection group improved more in jaw pain and jaw dysfunction.
• There were no adverse events; satisfaction was high.
• Conclusions: Intraarticular DPT resulted in clinically important and statistically significant improvement in pain and dysfunction at 12 months compared to lidocaine injection.

Prolotherapy has a promising role in the improvement of oral health-related quality of life of patients with TMD, and its beneficial effects persist at least two years after treatment.

An August 2020 study in The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (5) wrote: “In the present study we have assessed the influence of Prolotherapy in patients with TMD by the subjective measurement of Quality of Life using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Twenty-five patients diagnosed with TMD (mean (range) age 38 (18 – 70) years) were included. They had all undergone dextrose Prolotherapy to the TMJ at regular time intervals (four times at intervals of two weeks).”

• They were asked to answer the OHIP-14 questionnaire before and two years after Prolotherapy.
• Seven domains (groups of questions) of oral health-related quality of life were rated on a 5-point scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
• Prolotherapy was effective over time, as all the domains’ mean scores decreased considerably after treatment.
• The total mean score before Prolotherapy was 21.20, which was extensively reduced to 13.08 after Prolotherapy. There was a statistically significant improvement in all domains, including:
  • functional limitation,
  • physical pain,
  • psychological discomfort,
  • physical disability,
  • psychological disability,
  • social disability, and
  • handicap.
• We concluded that Prolotherapy has a promising role in the improvement of quality of life in patients with TMD, and its beneficial effects persist at least two years after treatment.

“I would consider referring a patient with chronic temporomandibular pain for dextrose injection if a clinician with experience in this procedure were available.”

In May 2019 editor Allan S. Brett, MD  reviewed this study for his colleagues. Here is what he wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine:

Injection of hypertonic dextrose was quite effective in a randomized trial.

“In this double-blind randomized trial from British Columbia, researchers identified 42 patients with chronic temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction. Patients received either 20% dextrose plus lidocaine (Prolotherapy) or lidocaine alone, injected into the temporomandibular joint three times at monthly intervals. At baseline, the mean pain score was 8, and the mean jaw dysfunction score was 7 (on 0–10-point scales). At 3 months, a decrease in mean pain score was significantly greater in the dextrose group (Prolotherapy) than in the control group (−4.3 vs. −1.8 points). A decrease in jaw dysfunction also was significantly greater in the dextrose group (−3.5 vs. −1.0 points).

“These results are quite impressive; the study methods are described in great detail, which increases my confidence in the findings. Although the results should be corroborated in another randomized trial, I would consider referring a patient with chronic temporomandibular pain for dextrose injection, if a clinician with experience in this procedure were available.”

Indian doctors writing in the Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery (6) found positive results utilizing Prolotherapy injections for TMJ in recent research (June 2017). Here is what they said:

Hypermobility disorders of the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be treated by both conservative and surgical approaches. Conservative approaches should be considered as first-line treatment for such disorders.

• Prolotherapy with 25 % dextrose being injected into the posterior pericapsular tissues is one such treatment modality with favorable outcomes.

In their study, the researchers examined 23 patients suffering from either chronic recurrent dislocation or subluxation of the TMJ who were treated with the single-injection technique prolotherapy with 25 % dextrose into the pericapsular tissues along with auriculotemporal nerve block.

• The overall success rate in the study was 91.3 % (21/23) with a minimum follow-up period of 13.9 months.
• The number of successfully treated patients requiring one injection was 7 (30.4 %), two injections were 8 (34.7 %), and requiring three injections was 6 (26.1 %). There were no permanent complications.

An April 2023 paper in the journal Cranio (7) from Alexandria University in Egypt reviewed data from eight previously published studies testing the effectiveness of prolotherapy on TMJ, In total 286 cases were reviewed  72% were females, and 28% were males. “The extracted data showed positive effects of dextrose on joint pain and maximum mouth opening with high patient satisfaction.” The researchers concluded that prolotherapy “can be effective in relieving TMD symptoms as it reduces pain, improves joint dysfunction, and increases maximum mouth opening up to 12 months.”

Prolotherapy reports on Hypermobility, disc displacement/dislocation

In Prolotherapy research, doctors say that they see appreciable improvements in the number of episodes of dislocation and clicking after Prolotherapy treatment.

• Doctors writing in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery found that Prolotherapy injections were curative in preventing recurrent TMJ dislocations. In fact, nearly 2 of 3 of these patients achieved this result with a single treatment. (8)

In supportive research doctors at the University of Karadeniz Technical University (9) say that they see appreciable improvements in the number of episodes of dislocation and clicking after Prolotherapy treatment.

• The overall success rate, defined as the absence of any further dislocation or subluxation for more than 6 months, was 91%.
• Of the 41 rehabilitated patients,
  • 26 (63%) required a single injection,
  • 11 (27%) had 2 treatments,
  • and 4 (10%) needed a third injection.
• All patients tolerated the injections well. The modified dextrose Prolotherapy is simple, safe, and cost-effective for the treatment of recurrent dislocation of the TMJ.

In the July 2018 edition of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, (10) Military doctors in India compared Prolotherapy to Placebo injections. They found: “Within the limitations of the study, dextrose Prolotherapy may cause significant reduction in mouth opening and pain associated with TMJ hypermobility. Conclusions concerning the reduction of episodes of subluxation/dislocation cannot be drawn. ” In their study, they could not give good evidence that TMJ subluxations or dislocations were reduced.

A February 2022 study (11) evaluated the effects of prolotherapy on condyles (wear and tear on the bone) in temporomandibular joint hypermobility. In this study, the researchers acknowledged that prolotherapy has gained popularity in recent years and has been reported to have positive short-term and long-term. Their study aimed to evaluate the changes in the trabecular (bone) structure of mandibular condyles in patients who underwent prolotherapy due to TMJ hypermobility.

• Forty-five patients who received dextrose prolotherapy at a concentration of 20% and fifteen control patients were included in the study.

Result:

• Dextrose prolotherapy without the effect of the number of injections caused a decrease in Fractal Dimensions (A computer-based scoring system) values in the mandibular condyles over time. Prolotherapy lessened the effects of degenerative wear and tear on the TMJ.

A May 2025 study in the journal Scientific reports (12) evaluated the effectiveness of intra-articular injection of 5% Dextrose prolotherapy in 20 female patients with Disc Displacement without Reduction with limited mouth opening, These patients had not responded to pharmacological and physical therapy.

The measured symptoms included pain intensity on mouth opening and closing, and ability to open the mouth. Standard scores were measured before and four times after injection (2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, and 12 months). The patients noted gradual improvements in mouth opening and pain reduction, The researchers concluded that prolotherapy “significantly affects relieving pain in female closed-lock patients.”

Intra-articular injection of 25% dextrose is effective in the treatment of pain and dysfunction of TMJ disc displacement with reduction as shown by significant improvement in pain and mouth opening and patient satisfaction.

A March 2022 study published in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery (13) comes to us from the Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt. In this research, doctors assessed the effectiveness of dextrose prolotherapy on the clinical signs and symptoms of patients having TMJ disc displacement with reduction.

• “This prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical study included thirty patients suffering from bilateral disc displacement with reduction. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group I = 25% dextrose solution and normal saline in Group II.
• Pain intensity, maximal interincisal opening (mouth opening), and joint sounds were evaluated:
  • preoperatively,
  • one week after each injection, and three months and six months after the last injection.
• Patients in group I (Prolotherapy group) showed significant improvement in pain and maximal interincisal opening, and higher satisfaction with treatment than patients in group II (Saline group). Compared to saline injection, dextrose injection resulted in an improvement in joint sounds but without significant differences within and between groups.
• Intra-articular injection of 25% dextrose is effective in the treatment of pain and dysfunction of TMJ disc displacement with reduction as shown by significant improvement in pain and mouth opening and patient satisfaction. The technique is simple, easy to do, safe, and should be adopted whenever appropriate.”

March 2021 paper in the journal Head and Face Medicine (14) examined and treated 40 adolescents and young adults, aged 16 to 30 years old, with a distinct combination of symptoms of TMJ “closed lock”. Patients received anesthetic blockages of the auriculotemporal nerve, then performed mandibular condylar movement exercise for 10 min, and subsequently received hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy in the retro-discal area of TMJ. Clinical assessments at baseline and at follow-up (2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, and 5 years) included intensity and frequency of TMJ pain, mandibular range of motion, TMJ sounds, and impairment of chewing.

Results: Cone beam CT images of the TMJs revealed joint space changes in all patients and degenerative bone changes in 20% (8/40) of the patients. The patients were diagnosed as having disc displacement without reduction with limited opening. Successful reduction of the displaced disc had been achieved in the treatment. Pain at rest and pain on mastication had substantially decreased in all patients and mandibular function and mouth opening had significantly improved since 2 weeks’ follow-up. The overall success rate was kept at a high level of 97.5% (39/40) at 6 months and 5 years’ follow-up.

More research published in The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. (15)

Dr. Refai of Cairo University reported in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:

• Sixty-one patients with symptomatic hypermobility of the TMJ were each given four sessions of intra-articular and pericapsular Prolotherapy injections six weeks apart.
• Each injection comprised 10% dextrose/mepivacaine solution 3ml.
• Clinical outcomes include:
  • the severity of pain on movement according to the numerical rating scale (NRS),
  • maximal interincisal opening,
  • clicking,
  • and frequency of locking was measured before treatment (T1), during treatment (T2) (just before the third session of injections), at the short-term follow-up (T3) (three months after treatment), and at the long-term follow-up (T4) (1-4 years after treatment).
• Condylar translation (movement of the TMJ joint) and osseous (bony) changes of each joint were evaluated at T1 and T4 using tomography.
  • There was a significant reduction in all variables by T2
  • The pain scores and clicking had decreased significantly by the short-term follow-up (T3).
  • Linear tomograms of each joint at T1 and T4 showed no alteration in the morphology of the bony components of the joint, and at the long-term follow-up (T4), tomographic open views of all joints showed condylar hyper-translation.

A June 2023 study in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (16) evaluated the effect of dextrose prolotherapy in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. A total of 20 patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement were enrolled in the study. “The posterior and anterior disc attachment, as well as the most tender part of the masseter muscle, were injected with 12.5% dextrose. Pain, maximum mouth opening, clicking, and deviation were assessed immediately before treatment, as well as at two, four, and twelve- weeks post-treatment.

Results: There was a significant improvement in the four clinical variables at the three-time intervals.

• Pain at two weeks was reduced by 60% and by 200% at 4 weeks.
• The maximum mouth opening was increased by 6.4 mm at 2 weeks and 7.85 mm at 4 weeks.
• The percentage of patients with clicking decreased from 70%, preoperatively- to 50% at 2 weeks, 15% at 4 weeks, and 5% at 12 weeks.
• The ratio of patients with deviation was decreased from 80% preoperatively to 35% at 2 weeks, 15% at 4 weeks, and 5% at 12 weeks.

An April 2024 paper in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (17) compared ultrasound-guided versus non-guided Dextrose 10% prolotherapy injections in patients suffering from internal derangement in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

• The study population included 22 patients and 43 TMJs suffering from unilateral or bilateral TMJ painful clicking, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved disc displacement with reduction (DDWR), refractory to or failed conservative treatment.
• The patients were divided randomly into two groups (non-guided and ultrasound (US)-guided groups).
• Twenty-two patients 5 males and 17 females were included in this study. Average age about 27 years old

The researchers found both US-guided and non-guided groups with significant symptomatic improvement over time in both groups. US guidance allowed accurate anatomical localization and safe procedure with a single joint puncture.

Prolotherapy Injections versus the TMJ splint

A July 2021 paper in the journal Scientific Reports (18) tackled the problem of assessing consistent effective outcomes in patient treatment results utilizing Prolotherapy. The study authors write:

“Hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy (a higher concentration of dextrose is being injected) has been reported to be effective for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in clinical trials but its overall efficacy is uncertain.”

To assess this problem the researchers then conducted a systematic review (they looked at previously published studies) and analyzed those randomized controlled trials that met their criteria to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of Prolotherapy for temporomandibular disorders. What they were looking for as good outcomes were levels of pain intensity. The secondary outcome they were looking for was mouth-opening ability.

Here are their results:

In a meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials, dextrose prolotherapy was significantly superior to placebo injections in reducing TMJ pain at 12 weeks. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, evidence from low to moderate-quality studies shows that dextrose prolotherapy conferred a large positive effect that met the criteria for clinical relevance in the treatment of TMJ pain, compared with placebo injections.

In November  2020: Published in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery (19) compared the effectiveness of  Dextrose Prolotherapy and occlusal (mouth) splints in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

• 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.
  • Wilkes stages for TMJ assessment
    • If you have been diagnosed with TMJ disorders you are probably aware of the Wilkes stages of TMJ assessment:
    • Wilkes stage II is typically characterized by a normal or seemingly normal range of jaw motion with intermittent episodes of pain, jaw locking, and clicking.
    • Wilkes stage II is typically characterized by more pain, frequent headaches, loss of range of motion, onset or development of TMJ disc damage, and deformity.
• The patients in these control and study groups were treated with splints and Prolotherapy, respectively.
• The patients were then monitored for pain, mouth opening range, clicking, and other deviations in proper jaw movement. These patients were followed for 0ne year.

Results: Nine patients in the (Prolotherapy) study group had a complete absence of pain, compared with only one (splint group) patient in the control group. The results showed that patients who received Prolotherapy demonstrated improvement in pain, mouth opening, and clicking, but no significant difference in deviation was observed between the groups after 1 year.

Conclusion: Prolotherapy was found to be superior in providing long-term clinical relief, with a reduction in pain and clicking along with improved mouth opening.

A December 2023 paper (20) did suggest that “simultaneous arthrocentesis and anterior repositioning splint therapy is effective in alleviating pain and improving mouth opening without discomfort in patients with unilateral painful TMD showing disc displacement with reduction with intermittent locking.”

Prolotherapy and aspiration (arthrocentesis) provided significant relief for TMJ patients.

Doctors at Ordu University in Turkey published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (21) suggesting that Prolotherapy and aspiration (Arthrocentesis) provided significant relief for TMJ patients. In this October 2017 study, 10 adults with disc displacement and painful, hypermobile TMJ were selected.

• Arthrocentesis and Prolotherapy were consecutively performed using a 30% dextrose solution that was simultaneously injected into five areas: posterior disc attachment, superior joint space, superior and inferior capsular attachments, and stylomandibular ligament.

Scoring tests were used to assess the maximum mouth opening, clicking sounds, pain, and subluxation of the TMJ. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and parafunctional habits such as teeth clenching, grinding, and biting of the cheeks or any other objects and those who had undergone surgery were excluded from this study.

The ten patients, 7 women and 3 men (average age 36) received a single treatment session of combined arthrocentesis and Prolotherapy at the same office visit. Subluxation frequency and pain significantly decreased after the first week of treatment. Subluxation also decreased at the 3-month follow-up.

Clicking sound values did not significantly change at any of the follow-up time points. Maximum mouth opening values improved at all follow-up time points compared to baseline.

A September 2023 study in the medical journal Cranio, Journal of Craniomandibular Practice (22) also compared the effectiveness of dextrose Prolotherapy in conjunction with arthrocentesis (fluid draining of the TMJ) and dextrose Prolotherapy alone in the management of symptomatic TMJ hypermobility.

• Twenty-four patients suffering from TMJ symptomatic hypermobility received 10% dextrose injections for three sessions at four-week intervals. (Three treatments, one every four weeks).
• Twelve patients received Prolotherapy alone; the other 12 received Prolotherapy and arthrocentesis The arthrocentesis was only performed once.
• Patients were evaluated for maximal incisal opening, maximal incisal opening without pain, pain at rest, pain during chewing function, TMJ sound, and locking episode frequency.
• Results: Pain scores were significantly reduced in both groups, and the locking episode frequency was decreased to a greater extent in the Prolotherapy and arthrocentesis than in the Prolotherapy group, in both the short and long terms.
• Conclusion: Prolotherapy is effective in the management of TMJ hypermobility. However, Prolotherapy with arthrocentesis may be superior to Prolotherapy alone in the management of TMJ hypermobility.

A December 2025 study in the Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery (23) divided 26 patients (average age: 33.7 years) into two treatment groups:

• 15 patients received combined prolotherapy with arthrocentesis  and
• 11 patients received traditional prolotherapy.

Clinical outcomes were measured by mouth opening, pain intensity, and the presence of joint clicking, at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-treatment.

Both groups demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in mouth opening. Better reduction in pain intensity was observed in the combined therapy group. Although clicking sounds decreased in both groups, the differences were not statistically significant. The study suggested that the integration of arthrocentesis with prolotherapy may enhance pain relief and improve clinical outcomes in the management of TMJ hypermobility, offering a promising minimally invasive option for clinicians.

Prolotherapy, PRP, and mesenchymal stem cell-based treatment

In a December 2022 paper cited above, researchers writing in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (24) summarized the problems of degenerative TMJ and possible solutions:

• TMJ osteoarthritis affects all (of the TMJ) joint structures, including the articular cartilage, synovium, subchondral bone, capsule, ligaments, periarticular muscles, and sensory nerves that innervate the tissues. . . Chondrocyte loss, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and subchondral bone remodeling are important factors in TMJ osteoarthritis.”
• “In recent years, such therapies as intraarticular platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and mesenchymal stem cell-based treatment (MSCs) have shown promising results concerning the regeneration of joint structures or the protection against further damage in TMJ osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, PRP and MSCs are more frequently associated with cartilage and/or bone repair than hyaluronic acid. According to recent findings, hyaluronic acid could enhance the restorative potential of other therapies (PRP, MSCs) when used in combination, rather than repair TMJ structures by itself.

Further reading

Temporomandibular disorders – TMJ and Lyme Disease

TMJ and Tinnitus: Should we explore the ligament chain from the cervical spine through the neck to the jaw to the ear?

Ernest Syndrome | Is this the answer to unresolved TMJ, facial, ear and throat pain?

Why do TMJ treatments fail?

Caring Medical published research

Evidence-Based Use of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Scientific Literature Review: This paper has been cited by 45 research studies as we were able to demonstrate level 1 and 2 evidence to support the use of dextrose Prolotherapy for osteoarthritic pain and function, tendinopathies, myofascial pain syndrome, sacroiliac pain, and myofascial pain syndrome. There is level 3 evidence in support of the use of dextrose Prolotherapy for diffuse muscusloskeletal pain involving the spine, pelvis and peripheral joints. Dextrose Prolotherapy should be recommended for such musculoskeletal conditions as tendinopathy, ligament sprains, Osgood-Schlatter disease and degenerative joint disease, including osteoarthritis.

The association between mandibular position to cervical spine and internal jugular vein diameters in upright position. Have we been ignoring critical generators of head and neck pathology?

Lockerman LZ, Hauser R. The association between mandibular position to cervical spine and internal jugular vein diameters in upright position. Have we been ignoring critical generators of head and neck pathology? Cranio. 2023 Sep;41(5):403-406. [Google Scholar]

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