Effectiveness of stabilization splints in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders

Excerpt

Different strategies are available to treat temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including occlusal splints, physiotherapy, analgesic medication, and behavioral counseling. The latter is recommended as a first-line measure before any invasive or irreversible treatments are initiated, the only exception being patients in acute pain. The most commonly recommended treatment modalities are occlusal splints, notably in the form of stabilization or centric splints to ensure the mandible adapts to the centric relationship, thus, reducing non-physiological muscle activity. Most patients also report improvement in subjective problems, although there is little scientific evidence of centric splints being superior to other splint types or to conservative non-odontological treatment modalities. The randomized clinical studies currently available have also yielded inconsistent results. …