• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2021

There are many studies on the indications and efficacy of splint therapy commonly used in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, there have been no studies on the splint weaning in terms of the splint use tapering period in relation to symptom improvement of TMD. This retrospective study aims to analyze a proper splint weaning method in patients with TMD based on symptom improvement. Materials and Methods: The authors examined 130 TMD patients with TMJ disorders, masticatory muscle disorders, and clenching/bruxism who had received splint therapy (occlusion stabilization splint, anterior positioning splint) of patients who visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at Yonsei University Dental Hospital from 2015 to 2020. They were evaluated according to the method to wean splints. Results: The mean splint therapy period was 29.0 months, during which patients wore splints 7 days a week for 8.4 months, 3 - 4 days a week for 9.5 months, and finally 1 - 2 days a week for 11.1 months (a total of 29.0 months, about 2.5 years). Conclusion: It seems that TMD symptoms can be alleviated and side effects such as occlusal change can be minimized if patients wear a splint 7 days a week for the first 6 months, followed by 3 - 4 days a week for the next 6 to 18 months, and finally 1 - 2 days a week after 18 months.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2012

Disc dislocation without reduction, as known as closed lock, is a clinical condition in which the disc is dislocated from the condyle and does not return to normal position during condylar movement When the condition of disc dislocation without reduction is acute, the initial therapy should include an attempt to reduce or recapture the disc by manual manipulation. When patients report a history of being locked for 1 week or less, manual manipulation is usually successful. In patients with a longer history, success rate tends to decrease rapidly. If the disc has been successfully recaptured, placing an anterior positioning appliance is recommended to prevent clenching on the posterior teeth, which would likely redislocated the disc. But it is hard to make an appliance immediately in the clinic because it takes too much time. And making an appliance using self-curing acrylic resin is not very popular because of its discomfort by odor and working time. Also, if the patient has resin allergy or is under orthodontic treatment, or if it is impossible to control behavior of the patient, it has been restricted to make an appliance immediately. Therefore, to supplement this disadvantages, we tried to confirm about successful short term use of temporary anterior positioning splint made by using putty impression material after manual manipulation in this study.