THE PATTERN OF SPLINT USAGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF 2 COMMON TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS .2. THE STABILIZATION SPLINT IN THE TREATMENT OF PAINDYSFUNCTION SYNDROME

Objective To examine whether the stabilisation splint is a suitable tr eatment for pain dysfunction syndrome and to determine the most approp riate pattern of usage. Design Prospective random control clinical tri al. Setting Dental school clinic unit. Subjects 70 patients diagnosed with pain dysfunction syndrome were treated with a stabilisation splin t for 3 months. Group 1 (23 patients) wore the splint 24 hours/day. Gr oup 2 (19 patients)wore the splint only during the day. Group 3 (28 pa tients) wore the splint only at night. Results There was no statistica lly significant advantage to any pattern of splint usage; all groups s howed a marked improvement by subjective and objective assessment. Con clusions Patients being treated for pain dysfunction syndrome by a sta bilisation splint need wear the splint only at night.