Effects of Centric Relation Splint Therapy on the Occlusal Contact State in Craniomandibular Disorders

교합안정장치 치료가 교합접촉상태에 끼치는 효과

Many types of occlusal splints are used for treatment of craniomandibular disorders. Most widely used splint among them is flat-type centric relation splint. Insertion of splint into the mouth may cause increasing of vertical dimension, masticatory muscle realignment and rearrangement of maxillo-mandibular relationship, so as a result of splint treatment, occlusal relation may vary whether you like it or not. From this point of view, occlusal state of patient shold be frequently monitored to prevent undesired or harmful effect during occlusal splint therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of occlusal splint, especially centric relation splint, on the occlusal contact state after 3 months treatment. 32 patients with craniomandibular disorders who had unilateral symptoms participated in this study. To observe and record occlusal contact state, the author used T-Scan system (Tekscan Co. U.S.A.) at both pretreatment and posttreatment. The recorded date were analyzed with regard to contact number, contact force and contact time, change of anterior tooth contact and coincidence of first contact point with affected side were observed, too. Aan last, the subjects were divided into 2 groups and compared, according to average value of VAS index, with respect to joint pain, sound and limitation of movement, respectively. The collected date were statistically processed with SPSS and the result as follows : 1. Total occlusal contact number and force were not changed by occlusal splint therapy but total occlusal contact time decreased slightly. 2. There was a tendency of increasing number of subjects with anterior tooth contact after treatment and change of first contact point side were observed in as many as 40.6% of subjects. 3. There were no difference between higher and lower group of VAS index, and between pretreatment and posttreatment in each group, either.