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Patient responses to vacuum formed splints compared to heat cured acrylic splints: pilot study
Aysen Nekora1, Gulümser Evlioglu, Arzu Ceyhan
1Faculty of Dentistry, Dept. of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey ; Faculty of Dentistry Dept. of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, University of Istanbul, Capa - Istanbul, 34093 Turkey.
Patients found vacuum-formed and heat-cured acrylic splints equally comfortable for treating temporomandibular disorders. This study compared patient preferences for these two splint types, finding no significant differences in overall satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Dental Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are commonly treated with occlusal splints.
- Both vacuum-formed and heat-cured acrylic splints are utilized in TMD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare patient preference between vacuum-formed and heat-cured acrylic splints.
- To evaluate subjective patient experiences with different splint fabrication methods for TMD treatment.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 20 patients diagnosed with TMD.
- Each patient used both vacuum-formed and heat-cured splints nightly for 3 weeks.
- Patient-reported outcomes assessed comfort, fit, retention, occlusal contact, and irritation via questionnaire; analyzed using MacNemar's Chi-square test.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was found between the two splint types across most evaluated parameters.
- A notable exception was the comfort of wearing the splints through the night, where patient responses varied.
Conclusions:
- Vacuum-formed and heat-cured acrylic splints demonstrate comparable patient preference for TMD treatment.
- Clinical decisions regarding splint material may not significantly impact patient satisfaction, with comfort being a key differentiator.
