Abstract
To reduce the disc in patients with anterior disc displacement without reduction, occlusal splint threrapies have been used in the treatment after pumping-manipulation procedures as usual. However, there is not enough evidence to show whether such occlusal splint therapies influence the prognosis of patients treated with pumping-manipulation. This study aimed to examine the effects of two kinds of occlusal splint therapies: anterior repositioning splint therapy (ARS), and stabilization splint therapy (SS), after pumping-manipulation procedures.
Forty-three patients: 36 females and 7 males, with a clinical diagnosis of unilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction, were studied. The mean age was 37.9 years (range, 17 to 78 years). Twenty-four patients underwent pumping-manipulation procedures followed by occlusal splint therapies. The remaining 19 patients were not treated with an occlusal splint after pumping-manipulation procedures, as control subjects. All of the patients were followed up for one month.
As a result, occlusal splint therapies with ARS for 16 patients whose disc unlocked clinically after pumping-manipulation procedures, were significantly effective for preventing re-closed lock, as compared with control subjects (p<0.01). However, occlusal splint therapies with SS were not beneficial to management of joint pain and other symptoms in 8 patients whose discs were not successfully unlocked by pumping-manipulation procedures.
