Muhammad Raza, Abdul Wahid, Fahim Ullah, Monsif Iqbal.
Occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS).
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;38(2):274-7.

The aim of the present study was to compare the hard and soft occlusal splint therapy for the treatment of symptoms of temporomandibular myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome (TMPDs) . This study included 50 patients (age range 20–45 years) diagnosed with TMPDs. Patients were divided into two groups for providing hard and soft splints by simple randomization. Group I received vacuum formed Soft while Group II Hard acrylic resin maxillary splints for 6 months. Before treatment and on follow up at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 months after treatment, the researcher measured all parameters of TMJ function including mouth opening, pain visual analog scores and tenderness of masticatory muscles . All recorded TMJ function parameters showed statistically significant improvement in both groups during 6 months period. Both hard acrylic and soft rubber splints improved TMPDs symptoms but hard occlusal splints exhibited superior results after 6 months of use.

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