Occlusal appliance therapy in a short-term perspective in patients with temporomandibular disorders correlated to condyle position.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to compare changes in the condyle-fossa relationship in patients with temporomandibular disorders of arthrogenous origin treated with either a stabilization or a control appliance in a double-blind controlled study, and to compare the changes in the condyle-fossa relationship with the short-term treatment effect in the two treatment groups. The radiographic appearance of the temporomandibular joint was also studied.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with temporomandibular disorders of arthrogenous origin were assigned to two equally sized groups: a treatment group given a stabilization appliance; and a control group, given a control appliance. The study covered 10 weeks. The treatment outcome regarding changes in severity of temporomandibular joint pain on a verbal scale was compared to changes in the condyle-fossa relationship in horizontally corrected oblique lateral transcranial radiographs taken with and without the appliance. Condyle-fossa relationship and structural bone changes were observed before treatment in corrected lateral tomograms.


RESULTS
The group treated with a stabilization appliance showed a changed condylar position significantly more often (P = 0.004) than the control group. Of the patients reporting a successful treatment outcome, significantly more (P = 0.006) showed a changed condyle position in the group treated with a stabilization appliance than in the group treated with a control appliance.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with temporomandibular disorders of arthrogenous origin, the short-term occlusal appliance therapy resulting in a changed condylar position gave relief of symptoms more often than if the condylar position was unchanged.
Ekberg
E C
EC
Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. EwaCarin.Ekberg@odbett.lu.se
Sabet
M E
ME
Petersson
A
A
Nilner
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*