THE PATTERN OF SPLINT USAGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF 2 COMMON TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS .3. LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP IN AN ASSESSMENT OF SPLINT THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DISC DISPLACEMENT WITH REDUCTION AND PAIN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME

Objective To assess the long-term follow-up of patients successfully t reated for disc displacement with anterior repositioning splint therap y and patients successfully treated for pain dysfunction syndrome with stabilisation therapy. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Dental school clinic unit. Methods Maintenance of improvement was assessed by a postal questionnaire or by direct telephone contact 3 years after c essation of splint treatment. Results 90% of patients successfully tre ated for disc displacement with reduction and 88% of patients successf ully treated for pain dysfunction reported maintenance of improvement after 3 years. In both groups the reported improvement was independent of the pattern of splint usage. Conclusions The short-term use of an appropriate occlusal splint for a specific temporomandibular disorder leads to a long-term resolution of the problem.