Clinical use of iontophoresis to treat facial pain

Iontophoresis is a modality that assists with the entry of certain therapeutic medications into injured sites. Medications, such as anesthetics, vasoconstrictors, and some corticosteroids, when dissolved in water, separate into positive and negative ions. When an electric current is passed through an ionized solution, the ions of these agents carry the electric current from the positive to the negative electrode. The above medications have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of TMD. These agents in liquid form are placed in meditrode pads that are attached to skin or mucosal surface over the sites that are to be treated. The treating (active) meditrodes and a larger ground (dispersive or return) meditrode are attached to an iontophoretic unit by wire loads to form a closed circuit. With iontophoresis, the treating medications can be placed in the target areas in high concentrations.