title: A novel vibratory stimulation-based occlusal splint for alleviation of TMD painful symptoms: a pilot study.
abstract: This pilot study introduces a novel vibratory stimulation-based occlusal splint (VibOS) for management of pain related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The study sample consisted of 10 patients (mean age: 40·5 ± 13·7 years, male/female: 3/7) who were using stabilisation splints for more than 2 months prior to the study onset and still complained of pain. Patients utilised the active and inactive VibOS during 15 days in a crossover designed clinical trial. The analysed variables were self-reported VAS pain levels and number of painful sites to palpation (PSP). Statistical analysis was performed with repeated measures anova. At baseline, mean VAS pain levels for group I and II were 45·6 ± 21·0 mm and 37·4 ± 16·3 mm, respectively. Comparison between these baseline values showed no statistical difference (P > 0·05, unpaired t-test). In group I, the inactive VibOS caused a slight increase in VAS pain levels, whereas the active VibOS promoted a significant decrease in VAS pain levels and PSP (P < 0·01). In group II, which received the active VibOS first, a significant decrease in VAS levels (P < 0·05) and in PSP (P < 0·01) was observed. No significant decrease in VAS pain levels or PSP (P > 0·05) was observed with the use of the inactive VibOS. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a good tendency of this novel VibOS in the alleviation of painful symptoms related to TMD after a 15-day management period compared to control VibOS.
authors.affiliation: Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Witzel
authors.forename: C E P
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: de Luca
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuboki
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bolzan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000293:injuries; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*