S. Minagi et al., Effect of a thick palatal appliance on muscular symptoms in craniomandibular disorders: A preliminary study, CRANIO, 19(1), 2001, pp. 42-47
Several treatment modalities for myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPD)
are being used at present. However, from the standpoint of patients' quali
ty of life, it would be reasonable to seek a more effective treatment modal
ity. This study aimed to show clinical data of a preliminary study regardin
g the effect of a thick palatal appliance, designed to fill the palatal con
cavity with a thick resin base, on muscular symptoms in eighteen MPD patien
ts. Shown here are the clinical results of two patients using palatal appli
ances of two different thicknesses. In this study, MPD patients were divide
d into the three following groups: 1. no-treatment group; 2. thick palatal
appliance group; and 3. medication group. Based on the results of this stud
y, it was suggested that the thick palatal appliance could bring about earl
y improvement of MPD syndrome. It is suggested that the thickness of the pa
latal plate an important factor in obtaining the clinical effect.