Splint Therapy Over a Time Period of 3 Months Does Not Provide Additional Benefit for TMD Pain Relief Over Dentist-Prescribed Self-Care Alone

Article Title and Bibliographic Information

The Efficacy of Traditional, Low-Cost and Nonsplint Therapies for Temporomandibular Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Truelove E, Huggins KH, Mancl L, Dworkin SF.

J Am Dent Assoc 2006;137(8):1099-107; quiz 1169

Level of Evidence

1b

Purpose/Question

Does adding either of 2 types of splint therapy to self-care offer any advantage for reducing TMD-related pain over self-care strategies alone that included jaw relaxation, reduction of oral habits, heat packs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and jaw exercises?

Source of Funding

Government

Type of Study/Design

Randomized Controlled Trial