Clinical Comparison Of Different Splint Designs For Temporomandibular Disorder Therapy

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of stabilization splint(SS)、relaxation splint(RS) and soft resilient splint(SRS) three different types of splint ontemporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients.Methods: In this trial,87patients with TMD were treated with stabilization splint、relaxation splint, respectively, and soft resilient splint，and were followed up at intervalsof2,4,6weeks and3month. The signs and symptoms were compared before and afterbeing used different types of splint.Results:1.Comparied with the base time, the jaw opening in both groups were increasing,especially at the first2weeks，there was significant difference between SS group and SRSgroup、RS group and SRS group (P<0.05).2.The VAS of all the patients after treatmentwere significantly lower than that of before treatment (P<0.05) and there was significantdifference between SS group and RS group、RS group and SRS group (P<0.05).The VASis decreased significantly in SS group.3. The joint clicking of all the patients aftertreatment were significantly lower than that before treatment. At the base time and2weeks there were no significant difference in all groups, at4weeks、6weeks and3monththere was significant differences only between SS group and SRS group（P＜0.0125，χ~2=11.851、χ~2=8.778、χ~2=7.144）.Conclusions: No significant differences in treatment efficacy were noted between thethree types of splint, and all of them are the best choice for treating the TMD. Especiallystabilization splint is more effective in the control of TMD pain than the other two types ofsplint.