Every day in practice, dental professionals see patients whose concerns extend far beyond the teeth themselves.

They describe aching jaws, facial tension, headaches, restricted mouth opening, clenching, bruxism and discomfort around the temporomandibular joints. For many, these symptoms have become part of everyday life, affecting eating, speaking, sleeping and even their ability to comfortably undergo dental treatment.

As our understanding of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) continues to evolve, there is growing recognition that many of these patients present with a significant muscular and soft tissue component alongside their dental condition.

This is where Clinical Buccal Therapy (CB Therapy) is beginning to change the conversation.

CB Therapy is a complementary clinical service delivered exclusively within dental practices by dedicated clinicians known as Buccalists™. Working alongside dentists and the wider dental team, Buccalists™ provide a structured clinical protocol that combines evidence-informed manual myofascial therapy with clinical-grade Photobiomodulation (PBM)—formerly known as low-level light therapy (LLLT).

Rather than replacing existing treatments, the role of the Buccalist™ is to complement them, supporting patients experiencing muscular jaw dysfunction, facial pain and soft tissue restrictions as part of a multidisciplinary approach to care.

A changing understanding of TMD

Modern evidence continues to reinforce that TMD is rarely attributable to a single cause. Instead, it is recognised as a multifactorial condition influenced by biological, behavioural and psychosocial factors. While diagnosis and treatment planning remain the responsibility of the dentist, conservative and reversible approaches are increasingly recommended as first-line management for many patients. This has encouraged greater interest in therapies that address not only the teeth and joints, but also the muscles responsible for jaw function. Increasingly, UK dental professionals are recognising that patients with a significant muscular component to their symptoms may benefit from a collaborative approach, where complementary therapies work alongside conventional dental care to improve comfort, function and the overall patient experience.

Why soft tissue matters

The muscles of mastication work continuously throughout the day and night. Chronic overactivity may contribute to pain, fatigue, reduced mandibular movement and impaired function. Evidence-informed manual myofascial techniques aim to reduce muscular tension, improve tissue mobility and restore more comfortable movement by addressing restrictions within these tissues. Supporting the soft tissues can play a valuable role in enhancing patient comfort before, during and after dental treatment.

Why every CB Therapy treatment includes Photobiomodulation

One of the defining features of Clinical Buccal Therapy is that Photobiomodulation (PBM) is incorporated into every treatment as a standard component of the clinical protocol.

CB Therapy combines manual myofascial therapy with clinical-grade PBM delivered using a medical device because the two approaches support different aspects of tissue recovery.

Research has demonstrated PBM’s potential to support cellular energy production (ATP), modulate inflammation, encourage tissue repair, provide analgesic effects and support healing following tissue trauma. Within dentistry, PBM has been investigated across numerous clinical applications including TMD, oral surgery, implant dentistry, oral mucositis, nerve recovery and postoperative pain management.

By integrating PBM with evidence-informed manual myofascial therapy, Clinical Buccal Therapy provides a comprehensive protocol designed to address both the mechanical restrictions within the tissues and the biological processes involved in healing and recovery. This combination is fundamental to what  makes Clinical Buccal Therapy different.

Introducing a new clinical profession

Perhaps the most significant development is not simply the treatment itself, but the emergence of a new clinical role.

A Buccalist™ is a clinician dedicated exclusively to providing Clinical Buccal Therapy within dental practices.

Buccalists™ are GDC-registered dental care professionals who have undertaken additional training through the Institute of Clinical Buccal Therapy.

Working alongside dentists, hygienists, dental therapists and specialists, Buccalists™ provide complementary care for patients experiencing muscular jaw dysfunction and facial pain, helping to create a truly multidisciplinary patient journey.

Clinical Buccal Therapy is not a training programme for existing practice staff. It is a dedicated clinical service delivered within dental practices by Buccalists™ using a standardised protocol that combines evidence-informed manual myofascial therapy with Photobiomodulation.

Looking ahead

As dentistry continues to evolve, so too do patient expectations.

Today’s patients increasingly seek practices that consider function, comfort and quality of life alongside oral health. At the same time, clinicians are looking for evidence-informed, conservative approaches that complement existing treatment pathways.

Clinical Buccal Therapy reflects this changing landscape by introducing a dedicated complementary clinical service delivered entirely within the dental setting Just as dental hygienists transformed preventive dentistry by creating a profession dedicated to oral health maintenance, the emergence of the Buccalist™ has the potential to transform how practices support patients experiencing muscular jaw dysfunction, facial pain and temporomandibular disorders through 
collaborative, multidisciplinary care.

Meet the CB Therapy team at Dentistry Show London

Clinical Buccal Therapy will be exhibiting at Dentistry Show London this October.

If you’re interested in the future of conservative TMD management, multidisciplinary patient care and the clinical applications of Photobiomodulation, we’d love to welcome you to our stand.

Come and meet the team, learn more about the role of the Buccalist™ and discover how Clinical Buccal Therapy is helping dental practices expand the way they support patients living with muscular jaw dysfunction.

Suggested Further Reading
• Calixtre LB, Moreira RF, Franchini GH, Alburquerque-Séndín F, Oliveira AB. Manual therapy for the 
management of pain and limited range of motion in subjects with signs and symptoms of 
temporomandibular disorder: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. J Oral Rehabil. 
2015;42(11):847–861.
• Hanna R, Dalvi S, Bensadoun RJ, Benedicenti S. Role of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Modulating 
Oxidative Stress in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human 
Randomised Controlled Trials. Antioxidants. 2021;10(7):1028.
• Alsarhan J, El Feghali R, Alkhudari T, Benedicenti S. Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Management of 
Temporomandibular Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Laser Photobiomodulation or Dry Needling? MetaAnalyses of Human Clinical Trials. Photonics. 2024;11(10):965.

Find out more at www.clinicalbuccaltherapy.com