Effect of simultaneous therapy of arthrocentesis and occlusal splints on temporomandibular disorders: anterior disc displacement without reduction.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to evaluate the effect of simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splint.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 43 patients (3 males, 40 females) whose symptoms had improved was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital between 2008 and 2010. Subjects were divided into three groups: Group A (17 patients with arthrocentesis and occlusal splints simultaneously applied), Group B (13 patients whose symptoms did not improve with occlusal splints, undergoing arthrocentesis after occlusal splint use for 8 weeks), and Group C (13 patients that only used occlusal splints). We compared these groups in maximum comfortable opening (MCO) and the visual analogue scale of pain and noise. Follow-up was performed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.


RESULTS
The improvement of symptoms was noted in all three groups, but Group A had a quicker improvement than the other groups, in terms of pain reduction and MCO increases.


CONCLUSIONS
The simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splints can reduce patient discomfort more quickly.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Hye-Sung
HS
Lee
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Hyun-Su
HS
Baek
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Dong-Suk
DS
Song
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Hee-Chul
HC
Kim
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Hyo-Geun
HG
Kim
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Bok-Joo
BJ
Kim
Department of Nursing, School of Natural Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea.
Myung-Soo
MS
Kim
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
Sang-Hoon
SH
Shin
Department of Oro-facial Pain and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
Sung-Hee
SH
Jung
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Chul-Hoon
CH
Kim
Arthrocentesis; Occlusal splint; Temporomandibular joint disorders