title: The Effect of Occlusal Splint Pretreatment on Mandibular Movements and Vertical Dimension of Occlusion in Long-Term Complete Denture Wearers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the pretreatment influence of occlusal splints and relines on mandibular movements (MM) and vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) in longstanding complete denture wearers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10): control (C), relining of old denture (RD), and occlusal splints (OS). Individual extent of MM was assessed via intraoral Gothic arch tracings and the VDO using posed frontal images taken at three time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OS group showed statistically significant differences when compared with the other groups (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both MM and VDO were significantly improved by use of occlusal splints pretreatment.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Costa Ribeiro
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Wellington Luiz de Oliveira
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.forename: Noéli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boscato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016302:Centric Relation; D003822:Denture Liners; D003823:Denture Rebasing; D003824:Denture, Complete; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D010781:Photography; D014716:Vertical Dimension