Functional Aesthetic Therapy Integrating Cranio-Cervical Soft Tissue Manipulation, Myofunctional Exercises, Lymphatic Drainage, and Postural Breathing for Facial Glow, Orofacial Alignment, Pain Reduction, and Improved Oral Function in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Patient-Reported Outcome Randomized Controlled Trial

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) affect jaw function, cause chronic pain, and may negatively impact facial aesthetics and quality of life. Conventional treatments often focus on pain reduction but rarely address aesthetic concerns or cranio cervical dysfunctions. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness of Functional Aesthetic Therapy, an integrated rehabilitation program combining cranio cervical soft tissue manipulation, orofacial myofunctional therapy, facial lymphatic drainage, and postural breathing exercises. Adult participants aged 18 to 60 years with TMD diagnosed according to DC TMD criteria and chronic orofacial pain lasting more than three months will be enrolled and randomized into two groups. The intervention group will undergo 30-minute Functional Aesthetic Therapy sessions twice weekly for six weeks, while the control group will receive standard conservative care consisting of education, warm compress, and jaw exercises. Primary outcomes include changes in pain intensity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, oral function assessed with the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale, orofacial alignment evaluated through clinical and photographic assessments, and patient satisfaction with facial glow. Secondary outcomes include quality of life assessed by OHIP-14, anxiety and depression measured by HADS, and monitoring of adverse events for safety evaluation. This study will provide patient-reported outcome-based evidence for a novel multidisciplinary TMD rehabilitation strategy.