title: Occlusal appliance therapy in a short-term perspective in patients with temporomandibular disorders correlated to condyle position.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. EwaCarin.Ekberg@odbett.lu.se
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ekberg
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sabet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilner
mesh_terms: 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*