Short-term effectiveness of a prefabricated occlusal appliance in patients with myofascial pain.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the short-term effectiveness of a stabilization appliance with a prefabricated occlusal appliance in myofascial pain patients in a randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients at 2 centers were assigned to a stabilization appliance group (S group, n = 33) or a prefabricated appliance (Relax) group (R group, n = 32). The patients had been suffering from temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain for 3 months to 40 years. The patients were examined for symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD and treated by a general practitioner. Treatment outcomes regarding pain, registered on a visual analog scale, and overall ratings of pain, registered on a verbal scale, were evaluated at 6- and 10-week follow-up appointments, and the data from the groups were compared statistically.


RESULTS
The main treatment outcome in the 2 groups was a positive improvement of overall symptoms without any statistically significant differences between groups at either 6 or 10 weeks. At the 6-week follow-up, 72% of all patients reported a 30% reduction of the worst pain, and 55% of the patients reported a 50% reduction of the worst pain, whereas at the 10-week follow-up, the percentages were 69% and 61%, respectively. According to the verbal scale, 85% of all patients reported themselves to be "better," "much better," or "symptom-free" at the 6-week follow-up, and 83% reported this at the 10-week follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of the prefabricated occlusal appliance seemed to be the same as that of the stabilization appliance. The prefabricated appliance can therefore be recommended as a short-term therapy in adult patients with myofascial pain.
Nilner
Maria
M
Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden. maria.nilner@od.mah.se
Ekberg
EwaCarin
E
Doepel
Marika
M
Andersson
Johanna
J
Selovuo
Kirsi
K
Le Bell
Yrsa
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome