The use of intraoral splints: a case report

Abstract

Intraoral splints are frequently used in dentistry and seem to be widely accepted as therapeutical strategies. This implies that the therapeutical mechanism and the treatment effects are well known and understood. Recently published reviews on oral splints determined that the quality of the evidence supporting the mechanisms of action of oral splints is still questionable. The initial therapy of a patient with craniomandibular disorder and reciprocal clicking in the right temporo-mandibular joint is described in detail in this paper. The treatment modalities and the measurements used to judge and to evaluate the treatment effect are provided. The therapeutical concept for this patient was not based on a particular splint design. An individual targeted therapeutical strategy was implemented instead. Splint strategies and splint prescription habits have to be reconsidered. In medicine, a strong trend towards individual therapeutical concepts can be observed. The term "target therapy concept" is used to describe the individual patient-orientated therapeutical demands. In splint concept, these individualized strategies are still not implemented. Using such individualized splint concept in clinical trials is, maybe, a key to improve the external, scientific evidence on this particular topic.