Resurrecting the antique system: Unraveling prolotherapy

• Main Authors: Sundar Shreenivas, Sankaran Sudhakar, Balasubramani Senthil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology
• Subjects: Growth factors; inflammation; pain; prolotherapy; temporomandibular joint
• Online Access: http://www.jiaomr.in/article.asp?issn=0972-1363;year=2018;volume=30;issue=4;spage=402;epage=406;aulast=Shreenivas

Proliferation therapy, or “prolotherapy,” is a simple, natural technique that stimulates the body to repair chronically damaged ligaments and tendons. Since 1930s, this technique has been used to stabilize injured joints and to relieve joint pain. Recently, it has also been used to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and considered as an effective therapeutic modality that reduces TMJ pain. Injection of prolotherapy agents into the joint space causes cells to grow and produces an increase in the growth factors with additional antibacterial effect. It is considered as a long-term solution rather than a palliative measure and should be considered before the use of long-term drugs or surgery. This article reviews the history and scientific literature regarding prolotherapy and its application in TMJ disorders.