engleski

Splint treatment of osteoartrithis of temporomandbular joint

Degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a form of arthrogenic temporomandibular disorders (1, 2). The purpose of this study is to determine the success of short-term occlusal splint treatment at patients with OA of TMJ. 16 patients (median of age 41.5, 69% women) with OA collected in the period 2001-2006 on the basis of clinical examinations and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography and conventional radiography of TMJ (Figure 1). The temporomandibular pain was evaluated with analogous visual scale. Psychological status of the patients was confirmed by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (3). Occlusal splint treatment was followed during 3-6 months (Figure 2). Results. OA was diagnosed in 62.5% of all TMJs, in 25% of the patients bilaterally. Clinical diagnostics and MRI findings of OA were matching in 12 (75%) patients. The most frequent symptoms felt by the patients were pain (95%) and crepitation (80%) in TMJs. 19% of the patients had acute pain (duration ≤ 3 months), 37% had subacute pain (≤ 12 months) and 44% of the patients experienced chronic pain (>12 months). The median of pain evaluated by analogous visual scale was 7 (range 9.8– 3.0) before and 1 (range 6-0) after splint treatment. The mean score in STAI 1 was 40.69 and STAI 2 was 42.44. Conclusion. Applying the occlusal splint resulted in painless TMJs (also painless crepitation) in 63% patients. A higher average level of anxiety was determined by STAI for all examined patients.

temporomandibular joint; osteoarthritis; occlusal splint

nije evidentirano