The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of radio waves on the functioning of
masseter muscles in the course of painful functional disorders of the organ, and thus the
usefulness of these procedures in the treatment supporting temporomandibular joint
dysfunction.
Material and method The study group I (20 patients) and control group II (20 patients)
consisted of patients, aged 19 to 45 years, of both sexes, who reported to the Consulting
Room of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction in Institute of Dentistry in Krakow to undertake
prosthetic treatment of pain form of temporomandibular disorders with the dominant muscle
component.
Study group (I) consist of patients who were treated with the occlusal splints and radio
frequency currents. In the case of application of radiation to the muscle area, the energy
was 20 J and 15 J to the area of the masticatory muscles, the frequency was 3 MHz, bipolar
technique, the duration of the procedure was 10 minutes, the coupling substance was a gel for
ultrasound examinations.
The control group ( II) consisted of 20 patients treated with occlusion splints and
sonophoresis procedures. For the area of mastication muscles 0.9 W/cm² treatments were
applied, the duty factor was 80%, the treatment time was 10 minutes, and the medical
substance was 25%Voltaren gel.