IMPACT OF DIAZEPAM ON PAIN PERCEPTION AND MOUTH OPENING IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To identify the effectiveness of muscle relaxant (once daily Diazepam 5 mg) on mouth opening and pain perception in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) reporting to the Maxillofacial OPD of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad.

Methodology: This study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad; during a duration of 6 months from January to June 2025. A total of 60 clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorder patients were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Baseline intensity of pain was assessed with the help of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and mouth opening was measured in millimeters with the help of a vernier caliper. Diazepam 5 mg was given orally once daily to the patients for 7 days. Post-treatment measurement of pain and mouth opening was recorded. Data were computed with SPSS version 20.

Results: The pre-treatment median pain score was 7 (IQR: 1), which decrease significantly to 4 (IQR: 1.25) after treatment (p < 0.001). Likewise, the median mouth opening increased from 38 mm (IQR: 3) to 41.5 mm (IQR: 2) after treatment (p < 0.001). No statistically significant correlation was identified between gender, education, or income level and baseline pain or mouth opening.

Conclusion: Diazepam was found to produce significant pain relief and increased mouth opening in the TMD patients within a brief treatment period. It can be regarded as an important pharmacologic treatment for muscular TMD in outpatients.