A short-term evaluation of the effectiveness of stabilization-type occlusal splint therapy for specific symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome.
To clarify the short-term effectiveness of stabilization-type occlusal splint therapy, a specific symptom approach was used toward 30 temporomandibular joint dysfunction patients with more than two major symptoms (temporomandibular joint and/or masticatory muscle pain, temporomandibular joint sounds, and limitation of mandibular movement). Eighty-seven percent of the patients with pain responded with this therapy and more than 50% had complete relief of pain 4 weeks after insertion of the splint. Temporomandibular joint sounds and limitation of mandibular movement responded more slowly than pain. These results suggest that the stabilization-type occlusal splint should be selected as a first choice among several therapies and that temporomandibular joint pain is particularly susceptible to this therapy.
Tsuga
K
K
Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University, School of Dentistry, Japan.
Akagawa
Y
Y
Sakaguchi
R
R
Tsuru
H
H
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000328:Adult; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement; D013016:Sound; D013165:Splints; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000180:Acrylic Resins