Occlusal splints and temporomandibular disorders: why, when, how?
Occlusal splints are one form of treatment in the management of patients with a temporomandibular disorder. Appliances are often used in conjunction with other forms of treatment such as physiotherapy or medication. A variety of splints is described in the literature and the dentist must ensure that the splint prescribed is of a design that has a proven success rate for the specific diagnosis. General principles that apply to the provision of all splints are outlined in this paper.
Gray
R J
RJ
Department of Dental Medicine and Surgery, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester.
Davies
S J
SJ
D002012:Bruxism / Q000517:prevention & control; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003767:Dental Occlusion, Balanced; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000628:therapy; D017090:Occlusal Splints / Q000145:classification; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome