Occlusal splints which are commonly used in prosthodontic treatment of temporo-mandibular dysfunction

Barbara Stós, M.D. Małgorzata Pihut, M.D. Andrzej Gala, M.D. Chair of Dental Prosthetics, Insititute of Dentistry Collegium Medicum UJ, Cracow Leader: Prof. Stanisław Majewski, M.D., Ph.D. Summary A considerable increase of patients suffering from temporomandibular dysfunction has been observed lately. This disease is becoming a social problem. A strong face and head pain, which is one of the symptoms of this disease, calls for effective prosthodontic treatment which eliminates the acute stage of the disease. In the first stage of treatment, i.e. at the stage of acute pain symptoms, an occlusal splint is typically used. It is found to be the most efficient device and is able to decrease or eliminate pain (70-90%), to correct the mobility of the jaw, and it is helpful in differentiating temporomandibular dysfunction. The presence of the splint causes the loss of occlusal contact of own teeth (quite frequently parafunctional); by removing the mandible away from the maxilla, it increases the vertical dimension, bringing relief to the joints, causing lower level of muscle tone and optimum bite force distribution. Changed mandible to jaw relation, in case of pain and long term elevator muscles contraction, prevents an appropriate occlusal evaluation in a centric and eccentric occlusion. The splint allows to position the jaw in a centric relation which is very important in prosthodontic treatment. In the article we have discussed: the influence of stabilisation, reposition and NTI splints on the stomatognathic system, their detailed construction and some clinical procedures.