Anterior repositioning appliances when used for anterior disk displacement with reduction--a critical review

Anterior repositioning appliances are commonly used for treating patients with an anterior disk displacement with reduction. The goal is to regain a proper disk to condyle relationship. Several questions immediately arise: Does the absence of joint noise indicate that the disk is properly positioned over the head of the condyle? Does this anterior position promote healing of the ligaments surrounding the disk?; and, is this anterior position merely therapeutic, or should the mandible be kept in this forward position? This review of the literature is intended to explore how anterior repositioning appliances are used in temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) patients. Hopefully, it will answer questions and also raise more questions about our treatment objectives when dealing with dysfunctional patients.