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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

[Bite plates and occlusal splints].

Occlusal adjustments are often necessary in cases of masticatory muscle spasm, bruxism, traumatic occlusion and TMJ disturbancies. Before such occlusal adjustments are performed, the patient should either wear a bite plate or an occlusal splint which frees the occlusion for a certain time. The splint is fabricated on a semiadjustable articulator such as the Hanau H2-XPR which is also used for the functional analysis on the models prior to any adjustments. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of plates and occlusal splints are discussed. The authors conclude that an occlusal splint covering the entire dental arch, such freeing the occlusion, seems to be the most appropriate appliance available today.

Bruxism↗
PubMed2001

[The management of temporomandibular joint disorders. The role of occlusal splints].

Occlusal appliances are often used for the diagnosis and treatment of pain and dysfunction related to the mastication system, despite the lack of a precise diagnosis. We reviewed the indications for occlusal appliances, classing them by accepted procedures for precise diagnosis. The type of appliance to use for each pathological situation is described. Conditions other than those described here do not, in the author's opinion, constitute warranted indications for occlusal appliances.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed1990

Night guards and occlusal splints.

Occlusal splints/night guards can be an effective, inexpensive and reversible treatment for a wide range of dental problems. The author describes their clinical uses, discusses some of the rationales that have been given for these uses, and outlines the designs that have the widest clinical application.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed1983

Patients with restored occlusions. Part III: The effect of occlusal splint therapy and occlusal adjustments on TMJ dysfunction.

An earlier study of 50 patients with occlusions restored by fixed partial dentures indicated a high percent (68%) of TMJ dysfunction. Occlusal interferences can play a significant role in causing TMJ dysfunction. To determine the significance of occlusal interferences, occlusal splints were placed in 10 of these restored patients who had moderate to severe dysfunction. The PRI was used to detect the presence or absence of TMJ dysfunction. The PRI TMJ dysfunction scores were reduced in all 10 patients after use of the occlusal splint. Five of the patients achieved reproducible tracings (no TMJ dysfunction) during the experiment time of 7 months. The occlusion of two patients was adjusted to eliminate the need for the occlusal splint. Patients who wore the splint 24 hours a day showed a significant (0.0004 level) reduction in TMJ dysfunction. Those patients who did not wear the splint regularly or had high levels of stress had PRI scores that varied. This finding indicates that the occlusal splint is not a treatment, as its removal permits reactivation of the occlusal interference. Resolution of dysfunction did not occur until occlusal interferences were removed. The changes in PRI scores to different dysfunction categories (none, slight, moderate, and severe) for the experimental group were significant at the 0.01 level. A control group of five patients had similar pantographic tracings but no other treatment. Their PRI scores varied, but there was no significant change in PRI scores or dysfunction categories. It was concluded that occlusal interferences were active causes of TMJ dysfunction in 10 of 36 patients in a population with restored occlusions.

Dental Occlusion, Balanced↗
PubMed1992

Making an alternative occlusal splint.

An occlusal splint is commonly used in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders. In a partially edentulous patient a poorly adapted removable partial denture can prevent the use of a conventional occlusal splint. This article describes the fabrication of an occlusal splint that also incorporates a provisional removable partial denture.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed1978

Occlusal splint fabrication.

Occlusal splints are useful in the treatment of occlusal and temporomandibular joint problems. Occasionally a patient is in a state of discomfort that requires immediate attention. This technique allows for the rapid and effective fabrication of an occlusal splint in the dental office.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1987

The effects of hard and soft occlusal splints on nocturnal bruxism.

Occlusal splints are commonly used for the treatment of nocturnal bruxism. This study investigated the effects of hard and soft occlusal splints on nighttime muscle activity. The nocturnal muscle activity of ten participants was recorded while wearing a hard and then a soft occlusal splint. The hard occlusal splint significantly reduced muscle activity in eight of the ten participants. The soft occlusal splint significantly reduced muscle activity in only one participant while causing a statistically significant increase in muscle activity in five of the ten participants.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The modified Hawley occlusal splint.

The use of occlusal prostheses is reviewed from the beginning of the twentieth century. The modified Hawley occlusal splint is described as it is used in integrated treatment in oral rehabilitation. The aims of treatment with the modified Hawley occlusal splint are listed and explained in detail. Contraindications and abuse of the Hawley occlusal splint are discussed also.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed2000

The provision of occlusal splints in primary dental care.

UNLABELLED: Occlusal splints (Michigan splints, night/bite guards or bite-raising appliances) can be an effective, inexpensive and reversible treatment for a wide range of dental problems. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse retrospectively the provision of occlusal splint ('Michigan' type) in general dental practice, following a prescription by a restorative dental consultant. METHOD: One hundred patients were recruited from consultant clinics in a department of conservative dentistry during 1995 and 1996. All patients were prescribed a maxillary, full-coverage, heat-cured, acrylic-resin splint (Michigan splint) as part of a treatment plan. An explanatory letter and questionnaire were sent to all patients and to their referring general dental practitioner in 1997 and 1998. RESULTS: A response rate of 79% was achieved in obtaining completed questionnaires from both patients and general dental practitioners. Of respondents 43% (34/79) received an occlusal splint of some form. A small proportion of the respondents (16.5% [13/79]) received a Michigan splint as prescribed. Irrespective of the type of appliance provided, most patients (82% [28/34]) found them helpful. Of those who did not receive an occlusal splint, 38% (17/45) of patients felt financial implications deterred them from obtaining an appliance. Other common reasons for non-provision included: patients felt that symptoms had improved (18% [8/45]) and patients did not agree with treatment (18% [8/45]). The general dental practitioners had similar opinions to their patients. DISCUSSION: These findings raise some serious doubts on the efficacy of consultant clinic advice in the prescription of occlusal splints in general dental practice. The financial and educational issues raised by this study will need to be addressed to improve service provision. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that 16.5% of patient respondents prescribed a Michigan splint at a consultant clinic received such an appliance in general dental practice.

Comprehensive Dental Care↗
PubMed1992

Temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction. Treatment with flat occlusal splint versus no treatment.

A flat occlusal splint has been extensively used in the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction, but no studies with untreated controls have assessed its effect. We randomly assigned 51 patients with temporomandibular joint pain and arthrographically verified disk displacement without reduction to be treated with a flat occlusal splint or to serve as untreated control subjects in a 12-month clinical trial. Pain symptoms disappeared in about one third of the patients in each group. Another third of the patients in the control group improved. Sixteen percent of the patients in the control group and 40% of the patients treated with a flat occlusal splint were worse at the end than at the beginning of the study. Joint pain and muscle tenderness decreased more frequently in the nontreatment controls than in the treatment group. A statistically significant benefit of a flat occlusal splint over nontreatment control subjects could not be identified in this study of patients with painful disk displacement without reduction. The use of a flat occlusal splint in this patient group should therefore be reconsidered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Occlusal splints and temporomandibular disorders: why, when, how?

Occlusal splints are one form of treatment in the management of patients with a temporomandibular disorder. Appliances are often used in conjunction with other forms of treatment such as physiotherapy or medication. A variety of splints is described in the literature and the dentist must ensure that the splint prescribed is of a design that has a proven success rate for the specific diagnosis. General principles that apply to the provision of all splints are outlined in this paper.

Bruxism↗
PubMed1984

EMG response to alteration of tooth contacts on occlusal splints during maximal clenching.

Maximum clenching on an equilibrated occlusal splint yielded an increase of 17% in overall muscle activity over that of maximum intercuspation contributed mainly by masseter muscles. Maximum clenching on an anterior occlusal splint yielded a decrease of 13% in overall muscle activity compared with that of an equilibrated occlusal splint. When maximum clenching was performed with six left-sided teeth removed from contact while the left second molar remained in contact, there was no significant change in muscle activity when compared with that of an equilibrated occlusal splint. When left-sided muscles were compared with right-sided muscles for the same situation, there was no significant change. When maximum clenching was performed with all left-sided teeth removed from contact, there was a decrease of 21% in overall muscle activity compared with that of an equilibrated occlusal splint. When left-sided muscles were compared with right-sided muscles for the same situation, there was no significant change. Changes in the number of tooth contacts did not cause changes in the overall muscle activity during maximum clenching. Changes in the position of the tooth contacts altered the overall muscle activity during maximum clenching. Changes in occlusal contact symmetry did not cause changes in symmetry of muscle pairs during maximum clenching. Unilateral support produced the subjective response of pressure on the contralateral TMJ during maximum clenching.

Bite Force↗
PubMed1991

Postural contractile activities of human jaw muscles following use of an occlusal splint.

As induced by an occlusal splint over a period of 1 week, this study monitored surface electromyographic changes in the postural contractile activities of jaw elevator and depressor muscles in six healthy adults. The immediate effect of the occlusal splint was to increase the postural contractile activities of the suprahyoid muscles. All postural muscle activities showed wide-ranging biological variation, but the activities induced by the splint tended to stabilize within 1 week, with decreased postural activities in the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles, and increased postural activities in the suprahyoid muscles.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Biomechanical analysis of occlusal splint therapy].

OBJECTIVE: The changes of the location and force of the condyle influenced by occlusal splint were investigated in order to know the biomechanical mechanism of occlusal splint therapy. METHODS: Auto-CAD technology, CT scanning, computer imaging analysis measurement and finite element method were separately used to comparatively analyze condylar position and its stress distribution in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) treated with or without occlusal splint. RESULTS: Occlusal splint could lessen anterior space, in crease posterior and upper space in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), so the condylar position move anterioinferiorly; the stress on condylar surface was lowered, mainly in anterior oblique surface or lateral side of condylar loading position; and the stress symmetry was bilaterally improved. OCCLUSION: The study suggests that regulating condylar position and improving the stress distribution is considered one of biomechanical mechanism of occlusal splint treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effects of occlusal splint therapy on TMJ dysfunction.

A study was conducted to ascertain what happens to dysfunction symptoms followed only by occlusal splint therapy. Four hundred eighty-six pantograms were made on 15 experimental patients over a period of 5 months to 1 year. Five control patients were monitored over this same period but received no occlusal therapy. The experimental patients with TMJ dysfunction were treated with occlusal splint therapy. The occlusal splints were worn until the dysfunction symptoms were reduced and the pantographic PRI scores were reproducible. The occlusal splints were than removed without occlusal adjustments and the patients were monitored pantographically. A statistical analysis was performed on the PRI scores to determine the relationship between experimental and control patients. Experimental patients had an average drop of 21.7 points during occlusal splint therapy as compared to 3.8 points for control patients. All experimental patients had an increase in the PRI score levels following the removal of the occlusal splints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Effect of occlusal splints on TMJ symptomatology.

The clinical response of TMJ symptomatology to full-coverage occlusal splints, when used as the only means of treatment, was evaluated. The symptomatology recorded during the last postoperative visit was compared to the initial visit. The response of the different symptoms to the use of the occlusal splint was analyzed statistically using a chi-square test. A statistically significant difference (p = .03) was only found when comparing those groups having only pain or dysfunction symptomatology. The response favored the remission of pain. However, every symptom was improved with the use of an occlusal splint. It was concluded that: 1. Both pain and dysfunction symptomatology will benefit from the occlusal splint therapy. 2. The pain response will be significantly better than the dysfunction response when the patient is treated with an occlusal splint. 3. Eighty percent of the patients suffering from a TMJ syndrome will improve or be cured when the only form of treatment is the use of a full-coverage occlusal splint.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1992

Adverse events of acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of craniomandibular disorders.

Occlusal splint therapy and acupuncture have been found to provide positive treatment in a number of studies. As with other therapies, adverse events may occur. In this paper, adverse event refers to any reaction to a treatment besides the intended treatment effect--irrespective of any correlation between the treatment and the reaction. This reaction can be positive, as well as negative, to the patient. In the present study, 61 patients with craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) were treated with acupuncture or occlusal splint therapy and the adverse events were carefully recorded. The results show that the profile of the adverse events differed between the two treatment modes. Acupuncture seemed to have adverse events of a more general nature, e.g., relaxed feeling, improved sleep, temporarily increased pain; whereas, adverse events of occlusal splint therapy seemed to be more locally related to the orofacial region, e.g., increased/decreased salivation and tension in the teeth. The majority of the patients responded positively to both treatment modalities. Only in a few cases did the patients consider the treatment uncomfortable. No serious adverse event or complication was observed in this study.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1991

Influence of occlusal splints on bilateral anterior temporal EMG activity during swallowing of saliva in patients with craniomandibular dysfunction.

A full-arch maxillary stabilization occlusal splint was made for each of 10 patients with craniomandibular dysfunction. These splints were divided into three sections (one anterior and two posterior). This procedure allowed variation in the anteroposterior centric localization of occlusal contacts, thus permitting the recording of the EMG effects produced by the different occlusal splint sections. The integrated EMG activity was recorded from the right and left anterior temporal muscles during swallowing of saliva in habitual occlusion and with the different occlusal splint sections inserted. EMG activity during swallowing of saliva was significantly lower with the different occlusal splints than in habitual occlusion. This supports the rationale for diurnal wear of the occlusal splint. No differences in EMG activity were found during swallowing of saliva when different sections of the occlusal splints were used. This fact points out the possibility for therapeutic use of different occlusal splints for improving swallowing function.

Adolescent↗