Effectiveness Of Occlusal Splint Therapy Research Articles

Craniomandibular disorders and headaches

Incidence and frequency of headache pain Three hundred patients were questioned regarding frequency of headache pain. One hundred forty-one patients were seeking treatment at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry TMJ Clinic for CMD. A comparison group of 159 was selected from persons being screened for routine dental needs. The following findings regarding incidence and frequency of headache pain were observed: 1. The incidence of headache pain was twice as high in the CMD group than in the comparison group ( p < .001). 2. Of the persons in each group reporting the occurrence of headaches, the frequency of headaches in the GMD group was significantly higher (44%) than in the comparison group ( p < .001). Effectiveness of occlusal splint therapy Thirty-three patients with headache pain were treated for a 4-week period with occlusal splint therapy. Patients were questioned regarding the number of headaches per week they had before and after occlusal splint therapy. The following results were observed: 1. Twenty-one (63.6%) patients showed a decrease in the frequency of their headaches. 2. Ten (30.3%) patients showed complete remission of headaches. 3. No patient showed an increase in the frequency of headaches. 4. As a group the average number of headaches per week before treatment was 5.06; after occlusal splint therapy the average number of headaches per week was 2.15 ( p < .001).

Effects of occlusal splint therapy on TMJ dysfunction

A study was conducted to ascertain what happens to dysfunction symptoms followed only by occlusal splint therapy. Four hundred eighty-six pantograms were made on 15 experimental patients over a period of 5 months to 1 year. Five control patients were monitored over this same period but received no occlusal therapy. The experimental patients with TMJ dysfunction were treated with occlusal splint therapy. The occlusal splints were worn until the dysfunction symptoms were reduced and the pantographic PRI scores were reproducible. The occlusal splints were then removed without occlusal adjustments and the patients were monitored pantographically. A statistical analysis was performed on the PRI scores to determine the relationship between experimental and control patients. Experimental patients had an average drop of 21.7 points during occlusal splint therapy as compared to 3.8 points for control patients. All experimental patients had an increase in the PRI score levels following the removal of the occlusal splints.