title: Evaluation of the role of splint therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint pain on the basis of MRI evidence of altered disc position.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify whether altering temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle and disc positions by occlusal splint (splint) therapy relieves TMJ pain and to determine whether splint therapy facilitates improvement of the ranges of condyle and articular disc motions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 150 joints of 75 patients admitted with TMJ pain/discomfort were evaluated. A visual analog scale for TMJ pain was administered during visits following the start of splint treatment. At the start of splint treatment, MRI was performed with/without splint insertion, after which condyle/disc movements were evaluated. Disc position and function, disc configuration, joint effusion, osteoarthritis, and the bone marrow were evaluated. Pearson's correlation coefficients, linear regression, and multiple regression analyses were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Splint-related anterior movement of the condyle was related to TMJ pain. With a biconvex disc and/or bone marrow abnormality, splint treatment was ineffective for reducing TMJ pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Splint therapy was not likely to be successful for any kind of TMJ abnormalities, such as bone marrow abnormalities and/or a biconvex disc appearance on MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan; Division of Oromaxillofacial Regeneration, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: cem17150@hyo-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Reichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishikura
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013165:Splints; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Longitudinal survey; Magnetic resonance imaging; Occlusal splints; Pain; Temporomandibular joint