| Title |
Occlusal Splint Is More Effective Than Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation In Reducing Pain Due To Acute TMJ Disc Displacement Without Reduction |
| Clinical Question |
In adults with a TMJ acute disc displacement without reduction, will an occlusal splint or transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation be more effective in reducing TMD pain. |
| Clinical Bottom Line |
Using a VAS, occlusal splints were found to be more effective in reducing pain in adult patients with a TMJ acute disc displacement without reduction. |
| Best Evidence |
|
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| 7610782 | Linde /1995 | 31 Patients | Randomized Controlled Trial | | Key results | 50% of patients that were treated with occlusal splints had TMD pain improvement compared to only 6% of TENS-treated group. | |
| Evidence Search |
(("Temporomandibular Joint Disorders"[Mesh]) AND "Occlusal Splints"[Mesh]) AND "Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation"[Mesh] |
Comments on
The Evidence |
All 31 patients in this randomized controlled trail were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction. Authors excluded patients with any type of previous TMD treatment. Those selected for the TENS group had an electrode placed on their painful TMD and another on their anterior temporal muscle. The occlusal splint group used a conventional splint with cuspid guidance. Both groups were treated once a week. Results were recorded before and after each treatment visit. |
| Applicability |
The use of an occlusal splint is more effective in reducing pain in patients with acute temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction. Even though TENS has been proven to reduce pain, the amount of time and finances spent on the therapy outweighs its benefits. TMD patients with limited opening and tissue inflammation will find TENS therapy more beneficial. TENS can increase range of joint motion, improve tissue healing, and reduce muscle spasm. |
| Specialty |
(General Dentistry) |
| Keywords |
TMD, Acute disc displacement without reduction, occlusal splint, Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
|
| ID# |
2281 |
| Date of submission |
04/25/2012 |
| E-mail |
doanh@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Author |
Hoang Doan |
| Co-author(s) |
|
| Co-author(s) e-mail |
|
| Faculty mentor |
Edward F. Wright, DDS, MS |
| Faculty mentor e-mail |
WrightE2@uthscsa.edu |
| |
|
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
| None available | |
 |
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
| None available | |