Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
A Postoperative Evaluation Guideline for Computer-Assisted Reconstruction of the Mandible
Published on: January 28, 2020
Clinical comparison between two different splint designs for temporomandibular disorder therapy
Asbjorn Jokstad1, Arild Mo, Berit Schie Krogstad
1Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. jokstad@odont.uio.no
Objective:
To compare splint therapy in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients using two splint designs.
Material And Methods:
In a double-blind randomized parallel trial, 40 consenting patients were selected from the dental faculty pool of TMD patients. Two splint designs were produced: an ordinary stabilization (Michigan type) and a NTI (Nociceptiv trigeminal inhibition). The differences in splint design were not described to the patients. All patients were treated by one operator. A separate, blinded, examiner assessed joint and muscle tenderness by palpation and jaw opening prior to splint therapy, and after 2 and 6 weeks' and 3 months' splint use during night-time. The patients reported headache and TMD-related pain on a visual analog scale before and after splint use, and were asked to describe the comfort of the splint and invited to comment.
Results:
Thirty-eight patients with mainly myogenic problems were observed over 3 months. A reduction of muscle tenderness upon palpation and self-reported TMD-related pain and headache and an improved jaw opening was seen in both splint groups (p < 0.05; paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests). There were no changes for TM joint tenderness upon palpation. No differences were noted between the two splint designs after 3 months for the chosen criteria of treatment efficacy (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U-test).
Conclusion:
No differences in treatment efficacy were noted between the Michigan and the NTI splint types when compared over 3 months.
