Patients received a maxillary hard acrylic stabilization splint designed to provide uniform occlusal contacts. Participants were instructed to use the splint for at least two-thirds of the day over a 6-month period, except during eating and oral hygiene procedures. Monthly follow-up visits were conducted for necessary adjustments.

Patients underwent dry needling applied to the masseter and temporalis muscles. The procedure was performed using sterile acupuncture needles in three sessions at 1-week intervals. Needles were inserted into identified trigger points and manually stimulated during each session.

A maxillary hard acrylic stabilization splint was fabricated to provide uniform occlusal contacts in centric occlusion. Patients were instructed to use the splint for at least two-thirds of the day over a period of 6 months, except during eating and oral hygiene procedures. Monthly follow-up visits were conducted for occlusal adjustments.

Pain intensity was assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Measurements were recorded at baseline and during follow-up visits to evaluate changes in pain levels over time.

Maximum mouth opening (MMO) was measured in millimeters as the distance between the incisal edges of the maxillary and mandibular central incisors at maximum painless mouth opening. This parameter was used to assess functional improvement in mandibular mobility.

Oral health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders (OHIP-TMD), a validated patient-reported outcome measure assessing the impact of TMD on daily life and well-being.