The effect of specially designed and managed occlusal devices on patient symptoms and pain: a cohort study.

Abstract

There is limited data regarding the benefit of using an occlusal device to help patients resolve a variety of symptoms involving temporomandibular disorder, as well as head, neck, and shoulder pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a carefully adjusted occlusal device on 12 symptoms to determine if there was enough evidence to justify a randomized control trial of this methodology. Splints were designed to ensure a stable, reproducible, mandibular position in a cohort of 157 dental patients with mixed histories of the following 12 symptoms: temporomandibular joint "pop," "click," and lock; jaw, neck, shoulder, and mouth-opening pain; headache; earache; tinnitus; and clenching and grinding of teeth. The results showed significant improvement (P < 0.001) in 11 of the 12 symptoms.

• Authors: Wayne O Sletten, L Parnell Taylor, Charles J Goodacre, Thomas D Dumont
• Journal: General dentistry (Gen Dent) 2015 Mar-Apr Vol. 63 Issue 2 Pg. 46-52 ISSN: 0363-6771 [Print] United States
• PMID: 25734286 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Arthralgia (etiology, therapy)
• Facial Pain (etiology, therapy)
• Female
• Headache (etiology, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occlusal Splints
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (complications, therapy)
• Tinnitus (etiology, therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult