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Objective: This systematic review aimed to investigate and examine whether intra‐articular injections of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) after arthrocentesis are beneficial for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, when compared to other treatments, such as injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) or saline after arthrocentesis. Methods: An electronic search on PubMed was performed using combinations of the terms 'temporomandibular' and 'platelet rich plasma', to identify studies reported in English and published up until 2017. The initial screening identified 222 records, of which only seven fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Of these studies, three compared injection of PRP after arthrocentesis with the injection of HA after arthrocentesis, while two compared injection of PRP after arthrocentesis with Ringer's lactate after arthrocentesis and one compared injection of PRP after arthrocentesis to sodium chloride. Results: Five of the studies found that PRP injections have led to significant improvements in mandibular range of motion and pain intensity up to 12 months after treatment, while the remaining two studies found similar results for the different treatments. Conclusion: However, a standardized protocol for PRP preparation and application needs to be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injections in masticatory muscles are used to treat numerous clinical conditions. This neurotoxin causes atrophy and transient paralysis of the concerned muscles. The aim of this review is to gather and define the effects of BTA injections in masticatory muscles on the underlying cartilage and bone structures. Electronic search of Medline and Google scholar databases covering the period between January 2007 and July 2019 was carried out. Eligible articles were selected according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Fourteen articles were included. BTA injections may cause short term reduction of cortical bone thickness and trabeculation. On the long term, cartilage volume reduction and bone volume loss were evident on the condyle and mandibular angle, at both injected and non-injected mandibular bone structures. Bone mineral density remained unaffected when only one masticatory muscle was injected but was reduced when several masticatory muscles were treated with BTA. Several cellular and molecular alterations were noticed in some articles. Because of evidence of irreversible negative effects of BTA on the underlying structures, possible muscle, bone and cartilage volume reduction should be communicated to the patients prior to any intervention. Further studies are needed to fully understand the cellular mechanisms and molecular responses behind this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue engineering is an alternative to traditional strategies to repair and regenerate temporomandibular joints (TMJ). Nowadays, patients suffering from severe dysfunctions of the TMJ may undergo discectomy, a procedure that consists of removing the damaged disc in hopes of reducing the symptoms. However, tissue engineering presents a potential solution for patients suffering from these disorders, due to the lack of safety and effectiveness of TMJ disc implants. Since 1991, several studies have investigated the possibility of regenerating the articular disc. This literature review aims to expose the new challenges and techniques in TMJ disc tissue engineering whether it concerns cell sourcing, scaffold or bioreactors. As these challenges are overcome, the goal of future studies remains to create a functional biological replacement of the TMJ components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]