The effect of specially designed and managed occlusal devices on patient symptoms and pain: a cohort study.
There is limited data regarding the benefit of using an occlusal device to help patients resolve a variety of symptoms involving temporomandibular disorder, as well as head, neck, and shoulder pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a carefully adjusted occlusal device on 12 symptoms to determine if there was enough evidence to justify a randomized control trial of this methodology. Splints were designed to ensure a stable, reproducible, mandibular position in a cohort of 157 dental patients with mixed histories of the following 12 symptoms: temporomandibular joint "pop," "click," and lock; jaw, neck, shoulder, and mouth-opening pain; headache; earache; tinnitus; and clenching and grinding of teeth. The results showed significant improvement (P < 0.001) in 11 of the 12 symptoms.
Wayne O
WO
Sletten
L Parnell
LP
Taylor
Charles J
CJ
Goodacre
Thomas D
TD
Dumont
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
BMAGO; TMD; occlusion; pain; splints