title: An evaluation of a polyvinyl occlusal splint for improving the health of inflamed maxillary supporting mucosa of complete denture patients.
abstract: A study was made to determine the effects of a polyvinyl occlusal splint on improving the health of inflamed maxillary supporting mucosa. Color slides were made before and after treatment of the maxillary supporting mucosa of 22 edentulous patients wearing dentures during a 15-day test period. The control group consisted of 13 patients, and the experimental group was comprised of nine patients who wore the occlusal splint over the maxillary denture. The 35 mm color slides taken before and after treatment were evaluated by 50 examiners to determine if the health of the maxillary supporting mucosa was better, the same, or worse after the 15-day test period. Fourteen of the examiners were retested to determine the reliability of the viewer. An observable change was noted in the experimental group at a p value less than 1 in 100,000. These findings indicate that the occlusal splint was effective in improving the health status in 64.7% of the experimental patients and that the experimental method was valid.
mesh_terms: D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper / Q000009:adverse effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011145:Polyvinyls; D013165:Splints; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014016:Tissue Conditioning, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011145:Polyvinyls