Effects of Occlusal Splints on Spinal Posture in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review

There is still a gap in the scientific knowledge on the linkage between craniofacial structure and spinal postural control in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. This systematic review aimed to assess the role of occlusal splints on spinal posture of TMD patients. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched from inception until 5 January 2022 to identify observational studies with a longitudinal study design presenting: patients with diagnosis of TMD according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD); occlusal splint therapy as intervention; postural assessment as outcome. Out of 133 records identified, 104 were suitable for data screening, and only 7 articles were included satisfying the eligibility criteria. We found that occlusal splints might have a positive effect on posture in TMD patients, albeit there is little evidence of appropriate investigation for postural assessment. This systematic review suggested that the occlusal splint might be considered a non-invasive therapeutic approach for patients with TMD. However, the low number of studies with high-quality methodology in these patients showed an urgent need for further research using combined force platform stabilometry and kinematic evaluation of the spine to investigate the impact of occlusal splints on posture.

Altered neural activation pattern during teeth clenching in temporomandibular disorders

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to explore the neural activations during teeth clenching in TMDs patients pre- and post-treatment.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty TMDs patients and 20 controls underwent clinical evaluations and functional magnetic resonance imaging with a teeth clenching task. Eleven patients received repeat evaluation and imaging after wearing a stabilization splint for 3 months.

RESULTS

During teeth clench, the TMDs patients showed decreased positive activity in the left precentral gyrus, right and left inferior temporal gyrus, and left cerebellum and increased negative activations in the right medial prefrontal cortex (P < 0.05 after AlphaSim correction). The 11 TMDs patients after treatment showed a return to normal neural activity in these areas. No brain areas in TMDs patients showed differences in activation after treatment compared with the controls, except for an increase in activation in the right cerebellum in the 11 TMDs patients (P < 0.05 after AlphaSim correction).

CONCLUSION

Decreased activations in cerebral areas associated with motor and cognitive functions in TMDs patients during teeth clenching were observed. Normalized activations of these areas happened in patients after routine treatment. These findings may facilitate the understanding of TMDs pathogenesis and the therapeutic mechanisms of the stabilization splint.

The effects of stabilization splint treatment on the volume of masseter muscle in sleep bruxism patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate, quantitatively, the volumetric effects of stabilization splint therapy on the masseter muscle of sleep bruxism (SB) patients.

METHODS

The magnetic resonance (MR) images of 16 SB patients diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) who used stabilization splints for four months were obtained before and after the therapy. The masseter muscle volume was calculated using Cavalieri's principle on the MR images.

RESULTS

After the splint therapy, the mean volume of the masseter muscle did not reduce significantly. The fat and/or water content of the muscles did not change either.

DISCUSSION

The stabilization splint therapy had no effect on the volume, fat and/or water content of the masseter muscle; however the discomfort was reduced in the patients. Although the effect of splint therapy is not fully understood, the non-invasive and reversible stabilization splint can be used in SB patients because of its relaxation effect on muscles.

Dental Treatment on Cephalea from Orofacial Origin

INTRODUCTION

Cephalea from orofacial origin is a diffuse, mild to moderate pain that appears as a bandage around the head. There are many different etiological causes of dental origin that contribute to the appearance of cephalea.

PURPOSE

The purpose of our research is dental treatment of patients with traumatic occlusion, bruxism and loss of occlusal support, which have a pathological condition - cephalea from orofacial origin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For the purposes of this paper, 15 patients with cephalea from orofacial origin were analysed, diagnosed and treated. The control group consisted of 15 patients without etiological factors. A butterfly deprogrammer and a stabilization splint were made depending on the indication.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

According to our patient study results, it appears to be a link between inadequately made prosthetic devices, bruxism and loss of occlusal support with cephalea. The therapy should help the patient urgently and continue to relieve the cephalea symptoms from orofacial origin. The results show an improvement in 86.7% of the examinees.

CONCLUSION

The butterfly deprogrammer and stabilization splint are new methods that can contribute along with other therapeutic modalities in improving the quality of life in a patient with cephalea from orofacial origin.