Title No Difference Between Soft, Hard, Or No Occlusal Splint After Arthrocentesis For TMD In Short-Term Outcome
Clinical Question In an adult TMD patient with disc displacment without reduction being treated by arthrocentesis, does the use of a soft or hard splint affect the short-term outcome?
Clinical Bottom Line There is no difference between using soft, hard, or no occlusal splint after arthrocentesis procedure in short-term outcome (1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months). (See Comments on the CAT below)
Best Evidence  
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
18356022Alpaslan/2008TMD patients diagnosed with disc displacement without reduction and arthrocentesis was planned as a first-line therapyRandomized Controlled Trial
Key results“Forty-five patients (41 female, 4 male) of the initial 67 patients, 22 in the hard splint group (mean age 29.8 ± 11.1 years; range 18-50 years), 9 in the soft splint group (mean age 31.6 ± 10.5 years; range 19-44 years) and 14 patients without a splint (mean age 28.9 ± 11.3 years; range 18–51 years), completed the 6-month follow-up period. There was a reduction in pain in all groups (P < 0.05) starting from the 1st day following arthrocentesis. There was no difference between the 3 groups in the decrease in pain. There was an increase in maximal mouth opening and lateral jaw movements in all groups (P < 0.05) following arthrocentesis at all time intervals. Between-group analysis did not show any differences.”
Evidence Search "Occlusal Splints"[Mesh] AND "Temporomandibular Joint Disorders"[Mesh] AND "arthrocentesis"
Comments on
The Evidence
The number of patients in each of the groups tested are small and larger numbers would make this evidence stronger.
Applicability TMD patients with disc displacement without reduction treated with arthrocentesis
Specialty (General Dentistry)
Keywords Arthrocentesis, occlusal splints, temporomandibular joint disorders, pain, surgical treatment
ID# 493
Date of submission 02/17/2010
E-mail riggsc@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Elena Koshman
Co-author(s) Chad Riggs
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
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
by Donald Nguyen (SAN ANTONIO) on 04/09/2012
The search was replicated with the MESH terms in the CAT and the most relevant evidence was the same. This indicates that the CAT cites best available evidence for the given clinical question at the present time.