Temporomandibular disorders represent a wide range of functional changes and pathological conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint, masticatory muscles, and other components of the oro-maxillofacial region. In recent years, TMD has become a frequent cause for seeking medical assistance. Their multifactorial etiology and diverse presentation necessitate evidence-based, minimally invasive management strategies tailored to optimize clinical outcomes.

Management is mainly focused on relieving the functional pain and re-establishing normal range of mandibular function. From the range of surgical alternatives available, arthrocentesis has been widely used since many decades. In conjunction with arthrocentesis, intra-articular administration of various substances has been used. The injectables studied so far include corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, tenoxicam, morphine, bupivacaine, local anaesthesia-steroid combination, hypertonic dextrose, analgesics, ozone, and auto-derived preparations. The currently used autologous products are mainly substances obtained from the patient’s centrifuged blood: platelet-rich plasma, plasma rich in growth factor, and injectable platelet-rich fibrin, of the most favourable composition.

Arthrocentesis followed by intra-articular injection of i-PRF has been the standard of care recently. The advantage of injecting PRF in TMJ is that each PRF injection causes a mechanical tear of adhesions through a hydraulic distension and expansion of the superior articular space, thereby eliminating the vacuum effect present in osteoarthritis. It is established that PRF can reduce pain and has growth factors incorporated.

At present, PRF has more advantages and appears be a better choice, whereas further research is required to prove the long-term efficacy of PRF to avoid the invasive procedure of arthrocentesis.