Treatment of myofascial pain with a rapid laser therapy protocol compared to occlusal splint: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a rapid low-level laser therapy (LLLT) protocol to Michigan occlusal splint in the treatment of myofascial pain, as well as to evaluate their impact on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). METHODS: Thirty participants were randomly allocated into three groups: G1: occlusal splint (n = 11), G2: LLLT (n = 10), and G3: LLLT placebo (n = 9). LLLT and placebo were applied in the points of pain upon palpation. RESULTS: G1 presented improvement in pain (p = 0.014) and in the diagnosis of myofascial pain (p = 0.008), while G2 and G3 did not. Regarding OHRQoL, G1 and G2 presented significant improvement (p = 0.005, in both), whereas, G3 did not. CONCLUSION: Michigan occlusal splint was effective in reducing pain and improving OHRQoL. Treatment with the rapid LLLT protocol only provided an improvement in OHRQoL.

Changes in oral health-related quality of life after self-care treatment in patients with myofascial pain.

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients with myofascial pain treated by means of self-care measures.Methods:Fifteen patients with myofascial pain had OHRQoL evaluated by the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-TMD) questionnaire and were instructed for self-care measures verbally and with a printed guide in the first consultation (T0), after 30 days (T1) and 60 days (T2). Paired t-test was performed to evaluate changes through time.Results:OHIP-TMD scores were 29.3 (SD 10.2) at T0, 18.9 (SD 11.2) at T1, and 15.9 (SD 10.7) at T2. There was a reduction of scores related to the OHIP-TMD domains of functional limitation, physical pain, psychological and social inability and incapacity (T1 and T2), and psychological discomfort (T2).Conclusion:Self-care measures had positive effects on the myofascial pain treatment, reducing physical pain generated by TMD and improving patients' OHRQoL.

Temporomandibular disorder treatment in a patient wearing removable prostheses: A case report.

AIM: The purpose of this intervention was to treat the patient, a 51-year-old woman, who was wearing a maxillary denture and a mandibular bilateral distal-extension partial denture (both unfit) and was suffering from temporomandibular disorder (TMD). METHODOLOGY: The treatment suggested was to construct a superior repositioning splint (SRS), and after remission of the symptomatology, fabricate new dentures. RESULTS: The occlusal splint was effective and the symptomatology ceased after about five months of treatment. The new dental prostheses were made and followed up for 10 years with no return of the pain. CONCLUSIONS: SRS and subsequent construction of new dentures after remission of the symptomatology was an effective treatment for TMD in the case described.

Deflexão dupla em prótese metalocerâmica como meio de mascarar a perda óssea de espaços protéticos / Double deflection in ceramo-metal prosthesis as way to mask bone loss in prosthetic space

Paciente do sexo masculino, 67 anos, apresentava uma prótese parcial fixa na região de dentes anteriores na arcada supeior, com os pilares de sustentação sendo os dentes 13 e 23. Pela grande perda óssea na região dos pônticos, ou seja, no espaço protético, a prótese apresentava um aspecto estético imcompatível com a aparência física do paciente. Os autores utilizaram como artifício estético, a deflexão em prótese metalocerâmica como meio de mascarar o aspecto do dente alongado, melhorando desse modo o resultado final da prótese