The pattern of splint usage in the management of two common temporomandibular disorders. Part III: Long-term follow-up in an assessment of splint therapy in the management of disc displacement with reduction and pain dysfunction syndrome.

Abstract

To assess the long-term follow-up of patients successfully treated for disc displacement with anterior repositioning splint therapy and patients successfully treated for pain dysfunction syndrome with stabilisation therapy. Retrospective analysis. Dental school clinic unit. Maintenance of improvement was assessed by a postal questionnaire or by direct telephone contact 3 years after cessation of splint treatment. 90% of patients successfully treated for disc displacement with reduction and 88% of patients successfully treated for pain dysfunction reported maintenance of improvement after 3 years. In both groups the reported improvement was independent of the pattern of splint usage. The short-term use of an appropriate occlusal splint for a specific temporomandibular disorder leads to a long-term resolution of the problem.