title: Treatment of reciprocal clicking of the temporomandibular joint with a repositioning appliance and occlusal adjustment--results after four and six years.
abstract: A follow-up study was performed on 12 subjects with unilateral and five subjects with bilateral reciprocal clicking and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders. After treatment for, on average, three months with a repositioning appliance, followed by occlusal adjustment, patients were examined every six months initially and, after the first two years, once a year. During the follow-up period, occlusal stability was maintained by readjustment and use of full occlusal splints at night, when needed. After four years there was a 57% success rate with regard to treated joints. After six years, the success rate had decreased to 41%. However, even the eight unsuccessful cases, with persistent clicking and adjusted occlusion, managed well with regard to other clinical findings and subjective symptoms. It is concluded that repositioning splint therapy followed by occlusal adjustment seems appropriate for elimination of subjective symptoms and clinical signs even though repositioning may subsequently fail. Results seem to remain relatively unchanged for several years but some decline in the success rate may occur with time.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Bell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirveskari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003767:Dental Occlusion, Balanced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013016:Sound; D013165:Splints; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy