title: A comparison of conservative and invasive dental approaches in the treatment of tension-type headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of conservative dental treatment (occlusal splint and pharmacologic therapy) and invasive therapy (prosthetic restorations) in the treatment of tension-type headache (TTH).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample was composed of 70 patients who presented with symptomatic TTH and were assigned to three treatment groups according to their treatment needs. Group A (30 patients): a conservative treatment protocol with a combination of an occlusal splint and analgesic and muscle relaxant medication. Group B (10 patients): invasive prosthodontic procedures. Group C (30 patients): patients who refused any type of treatment but consented to the study served as a control group. Pain quality was measured with the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). The statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon rank test (P≤.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conservative treatment with splints and analgesic medication and invasive treatment by prosthetic rehabilitation relieved the TTH symptoms. The patients who received treatment experienced a significant reduction in their discomfort after 6 months (P≤.01), whereas the patients who refused therapy remained, on average, at the same pain level (P≤.117). In group A, the HIT-6 score was reduced for 26 patients, and in group B for 8 patients. In group C a reduction of HIT-6 scores was observed in 10 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative or invasive occlusal adjustments may serve as a useful tool in the treatment of TTH.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Troeltzsch
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Messlinger
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brodine
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gassling
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Troeltzsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*