Manual Therapy and Splint Therapy in Patients With Temporomandibular Dysfunction

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Splint Therapy in Patients With Myofascial Temporomandibular Dysfunction Combined With Bruxism

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of splint treatment and manual therapy in patients diagnosed with myofascial temporomandibular dysfunction with bruxism.

A total of 56 patients were evaluated. Among those, 20 patients who did not meet the criteria were excluded. 36 patients met the inclusion criteria and were willing to participate in the study.

The patients were randomly separated into two groups using the method of single- and double-digit numbers written on paper in a sealed envelope.

Those who selected a double-digit number were assigned to the manual therapy (MT) group (n:18) and those with a single-digit number to the splint therapy (ST) group (n:18).

After the further exclusion of 7 patients during the treatment period, the final evaluations were compared of 29 patients (15 MT and 14 ST) who completed the 4-week treatment process.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages between 18 and 50 years old,
• Patients with a diagnosis of myofascial TMD with Bruxism according to the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD),
• Having pain severity ≥3 according to the Visual analogue scale (VAS),
• Probable sleep bruxism according to clinical evaluation and a questionnaire-based assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a diagnosis other than myofascial TMD according to the research DC/TMD,
• a history of surgery associated with cervical and/or TMJ problems,
• a proven specific pathological condition such as cervical and/or TMJ malignancy, fracture, or systemic rheumatoid disease,
• a history of facial paralysis, a diagnosed psychiatric disease,
• if they were undergoing orthodontic treatment,
• had received physiotherapy within the last 3 months,
• or could not be co-operative.