Occlusal splints-types and effectiveness in temporomandibular disorder management
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Published on: August 2, 2024
Hamad Albagieh1, Ibrahim Alomran2, Abdulrahman Binakresh2
1Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Occlusal splints are routinely used in dental offices to diagnose and treat abnormalities of the masticatory system. There are different occlusal splints, each of which can address various conditions. They may treat individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and bruxism or be used for occlusal stabilization and dentition wear reduction.
Methods:
The literature in the National Library of Medicine's Medline Database was reviewed using the Mesh terms 'occlusal splints' AND 'Temporomandibular Disorders.
Conclusion:
Occlusal splints can treat a wide variety of TMDs. They can treat bruxism, headaches, postural imbalances related to TMDs, and decreased vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO). However, there is no clear evidence that occlusal splints are superior to physiotherapy in treating TMDs. In the long-term follow-up, they were equally effective as other therapies.
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