| Title | Oral splints: the crutches for temporomandibular disorders and bruxism? | | Author(s) | Dao TT, Lavigne GJ | | Institution | Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. | | Source | Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 1998; 9(3):345-61. | | MeSH | Behavior Therapy
Bruxism
Controlled Clinical Trials
Dental Occlusion
Electromyography
Facial Pain
Habits
Humans
Mandibular Condyle
Masticatory Muscles
Occlusal Splints
Patient Satisfaction
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Self Concept
Temporomandibular Joint Disk
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome
Tooth Diseases
| | Abstract | Despite the extensive use of oral splints in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and bruxism, their mechanisms of action remain controversial Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain their apparent efficacy (i.e., true therapeutic value), including the repositioning of condyle and/or the articular disc, reduction in the electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles, modification of the patient's "harmful" oral behavior, and changes in the patient's occlusion. Following a comprehensive review of the literature, it is concluded that any of these theories is either poor or inconsistent, while the issue of true efficacy for oral splints remains unsettled. However, the results of a controlled clinical trial lend support to the effectiveness (i.e., the patient's appreciation of the positive changes which are perceived to have occurred during the trial) of the stabilizing splint in the control of myofascial pain. In light of the data supporting their effectiveness but not their efficacy, oral splints should be used as an adjunct for pain management rather than a definitive treatment. For sleep bruxism, it is prudent to limit their use as a habit management aid and to prevent/limit dental damage potentially induced by the disorder. Future research should study the natural history and etiologies of TMD and bruxism, so that specific treatments for these disorders can be developed. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Review
| | PubMed ID | 9715371 |
|
