• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.195-204
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• 1987

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of occlusal splints on the masseteric silent period and the changes of the masseteric silent period after experimental bruxism with occlusal splints. In nine subjects, anterior occlusal splints were fabricated. The jaw-jerk reflex was induced by tapping over mandibular symphysis area with solenoid driven hammer and electromyogram of left masseter muscle was recorded. In the recorded electromyogram of left masseter muscle the silent period duration was measured. This procedure was done before insertion of anterior occlusal splints, after insertion of anterior occlusal splints, after 30 min experimental bruxism with anterior occlusal splints, and 3hr after removal of anterior occlusal splints. The result were as follows; 1. The mean silent period duration was increased after insertion of occlusal splints compared with the mean silent period duration before insertion of occlusal splints. 2. There was no change of the mean silent period duration after 30 min experimental bruxism with occlusal splints compared with the mean silent period duration after insertion of occlusal splints. 3. 3hr after the removal of occlusal splints, the mean silent period duration showed no difference from the mean silent period duration before insertion of occlusal splints.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2014

PURPOSE. The occlusal splint has been used for many years as an effective treatment of sleep bruxism. Several methods have been used to evaluate efficiency of the occlusal splints. However, the effect of the occlusal splints on occlusal force has not been clarified sufficiently. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal splints on maximum occlusal force in patients with sleep bruxism and compare two type of splints that are Bruxogard-soft splint and canine protected hard stabilization splint. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twelve students with sleep bruxism were participated in the present study. All participants used two different occlusal splints during sleep for 6 weeks. Maximum occlusal force was measured with two miniature strain-gage transducers before, 3 and 6 weeks after insertion of occlusal splints. Clinical examination of temporomandibular disorders was performed for all individuals according to the Craniomandibular Index (CMI) before and 6 weeks after the insertion of splints. The changes in mean occlusal force before, 3 and 6 weeks after insertion of both splints were analysed with paired sample t-test. The Wilcoxon test was used for the comparison of the CMI values before and 6 weeks after the insertion of splints. RESULTS. Participants using stabilization splints showed no statistically significant changes in occlusal force before, 3, and 6 weeks after insertion of splint (P>.05) and participants using Bruxogard-soft splint had statistically significant decreased occlusal force 6 weeks after insertion of splint (P<.05). There was statistically significant improvement in the CMI value of the participants in both of the splint groups (P<.05). CONCLUSION. Participants who used Bruxogard-soft splint showed decreases in occlusal force 6 weeks after insertion of splint. The use of both splints led to a significant reduction in the clinical symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral splints in reducing the intensity of pain in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction in both short and long-term treatment durations. Electronic databases, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and EMBASE were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing different types of splints to non-occluding splints, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, counseling, and no treatment. The risk of bias was assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias recommendations. Fixed and random effects were used to summarize the outcomes. The effect estimates were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) or risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were carried out according to the treatment duration. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of short-term studies up to three months revealed no significant difference between the study groups. However, long-term studies exhibited a significant difference in pain reduction in favor of the control group. Total analysis revealed that the control group resulted in significant pain reduction (SMD 0.14, 95% CI 0.05-0.23, P=0.002, I²=0%). Oral splints are not effective in reducing pain intensity or improving function in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.64-84
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• 2023

Purpose:Plaster splints are routinely performed in the Emergency Department (ED) and avoidable complications such as skin ulcerations and fracture instability arise mainly due to improper techniques. Despite its frequent use, there is often no formal training on the fundamental principles of plaster splint application for a medical officer rotating through ED. We aim to use Quality Improvement (QI) methodology to reduce number of incorrect plaster splint application to improve overall patient care via a bundled educational solution. Methods: We initiated a QI program implementing concepts derived from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement models, including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, to decrease the rate of incorrect plaster splint application. A bundled education solution consisting of three sequential interventions (practical teaching session, online video lecture and quick reference cards) were formulated to specifically target critical factors that had been identified as the cause of incorrect plaster splints in ED. Results: With the QI intervention, our overall rate of incorrect plaster splints was reduced from 84.1% to 68.6% over a 6-month period. Conclusion: Following the QI project implementation of the bundled educational solution, there has been a sustained reduction in incorrect plaster splints application. The continuation of the training program also ensures the sustainability of our efforts in ED.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2018

Purpose: Ingrown toenails are a common disease in the adolescent period and the treatments could be more conservative for this early stage of the disease. This study is a case series on the results of a gutter splint for an adolescent ingrown toe nail as a simple, comfortable treatment method. Materials and Methods: From 2011 to 2018, 22 patients (mean age, 12.2 years; range, 8~15 years) with ingrown toenails were treated with a gutter splint. There were 16 boys and 6 girls with 7 patients on both great toes, and additional 4 both corners of a nail, giving a total of 33 splints. Flat, plastic straws and glue or suture were used to protect the nail corners under local anesthesia. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively and phone calls were made to obtain the long-term results. Results: Fifteen splints were fixed with a suture and the other 18 splints were fixed with glue. There were 9 cases of recurrence out of 33 gutter splints, 8 out of 15 sutured splints and 1 out of 18 glued splints (p=0.010). There was no gender (p=0.383) or age (p=0.305) difference in the number of recurrences. Conclusion: For growing people, ingrown nails can be cured easily by conservative treatment for a transiently shortened or broken toenail. The glued gutter splint had a reasonable success rate as a first line treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2013

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effect of simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splint. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 43 patients (3 males, 40 females) whose symptoms had improved was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital between 2008 and 2010. Subjects were divided into three groups: Group A (17 patients with arthrocentesis and occlusal splints simultaneously applied), Group B (13 patients whose symptoms did not improve with occlusal splints, undergoing arthrocentesis after occlusal splint use for 8 weeks), and Group C (13 patients that only used occlusal splints). We compared these groups in maximum comfortable opening (MCO) and the visual analogue scale of pain and noise. Follow-up was performed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: The improvement of symptoms was noted in all three groups, but Group A had a quicker improvement than the other groups, in terms of pain reduction and MCO increases. Conclusion: The simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splints can reduce patient discomfort more quickly.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2013

PURPOSE. Occlusal splints are commonly used to prevent tooth wear caused by bruxism. However, the effects of splints on occlusion are still unclear. Although it is rarely alluded in literature, splints can provoke severe occlusal alterations and other complications. This study was aimed to identify differences in the responses of individuals with bruxism and healthy individuals to a full-arch maxillary stabilization splint in terms of occlusal changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Occlusal contacts in 20 (5 male, 15 female) bruxism patients and 20 (5 male, 15 female) controls with normal occlusion were evaluated before and after occlusal splint therapy. T-Scan III, a computerized occlusal analysis system, was used to simultaneously measure occlusion and disclusion times as well as left-right and anterior-posterior contact distributions before splint therapy and 3 months after therapy. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analyses (${\alpha}$=.05). RESULTS. No differences were found in the posterior contact of bruxism patients before and after stabilization splint treatment. However, differences in posterior contact were observed between bruxists and normal individuals prior to treatment, and this difference disappeared following treatment. CONCLUSION. The results of this study showed the use of a stabilization splint may not have an effect on occlusion. However, the area of posterior occlusal contact among bruxists was found to be greater than that of normal individuals. According to this study, the clinical use of splints may be harmless.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 1988

The author studied masticatory muscle activity and bite force in normal persons without Temporomandibular Disorders(TMD) signs and symptoms, The number of subjects was 15, and the age of them was from 22 to 25 years. Electromyography was used to record the muscle activity in tapping and clenching movement with or without occlusal splint. 3 splints were made from 3 different mandibular position, that if, centric occlusion position, Rocabado's mandibular rest position, Dawson's centric relation position. The thickness of splint was 3.0-3.5㎜ at molar region. The muscle examined were Masseter and Anterior Temporalis attached with surface electrodes and the device used to measure the EMG level was Bioelectric processor Model EM2. After recording the EMG, the author measured the bite force level in clenching movement with bite force meter Model MPM-3000 in the dame position used in the EMG experiment. The obtained results were as follow : 1. With occlusal splints insetion, the amount of decreased muscle activity in Anterior Temporalis was more than those in Masseter. 2. In the three maxillomandibular relationships with occlusal splints, Masseter showed slightly increased level of muscle in centric occlusion but Ant. Temporalis showed decreased level of muscle activity reversely in that position. 3. Muscle activities between Rocabado's rest position and Dawson's centric relation position were generally similar whatever the muscles or the movements the author examined. 4. Bite force in clenching movement increased with splints insertion, especially with the splint registered in centric occlusion position.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.43-49
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to compare the differences on the activity and power of the wrist flexors and extensors in subjects before the use of a wrist extension splint, after nighttime wearing of the splint, and after daytime wearing of the splint. Ten healthy male and ten healthy female students (mean: $22.4{\pm}1.2$ years old) volunteered to wear custom-made wrist splints either during the night or during the day, The hand force of the wrist flexor and extensor, and grip force were measured by PowerTrack II and Dynatron, respectively. At the same time, the activities of the wrist flexor and extensor were recorded by' surface electromyography. The maximal hand force and motor unit recruitment of the flexor carpi ulnatis (FCU) increased significantly (p<.05) when tile subjects wore the wrist splints during the daytime, but the maximal hand power of the FCU decreased with nighttime use of the splints. The maximal hand power and motor unit recruitment of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) and the ECR/FCU ratio decreased both during nighttime and daytime use. The decrement of the ECR/FCU ratio was significant (p<.05). Wearing a wrist extension splint during nighttime led to the maintenance of a lengthened position of the wrist flexor, resulting in the wrist flexor becoming weak. Wearing a wrist extension splint during the day induced the wrist flexors to be greater. In healthy people, the imbalance between the wrist flexors and extensors may be caused by the use of a wrist extension splint. This study indicates that therapists have to consider whether a splint will be effective, as well as the wearing time, when prescribing splints to people with problems of the musculoskeletal system.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.511-516
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• 2018

This study examined the effectiveness of a short thumb splint and a glove type splint which combined features of a fitness glove in order to improve hand function and performance of functional task after traumatic brain injury. One subject with traumatic brain injury participated in this study and wore a short thumb splint and customized glove type splint. His hand function was significantly improved when comparing to that of not using those splints. In addition, using the glove type splint was more significant to perform functional tasks than using the short thumb splint. The findings of this study identified that hand function of people with traumatic brain injury was improved by using those splints as an occupational therapy service and it is necessary to adapt the customized splints according to the personal characteristics.