Stabilization Splint Treatment of TMD

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficacy of stabilization splint treatment on TMD-related facial pain and oral health-related quality of life during a one-year follow-up. Eighty TMD patients were randomly assigned to two groups: splint group (n=39) and control group (n=41). The patients in the splint group were treated with a stabilization splint and received counseling and instructions for masticatory muscle exercises. The controls received only counseling and instructions for masticatory muscles exercises. The outcome variables were the intensity of facial pain (as measured with visual analogue scale, VAS), patients' subjective estimate of symptoms and treatment outcome, as well as Oral Heath Impact Profile (OHIP)-14. The differences in variables between the groups at each follow-up points (1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after baseline) were analyzed using regression models. Group status and presence of psychosocial symptoms were included as the explanatory factor and baseline VAS, gender, age, length of treatment and general health status as confounders.