Management of painful temporomandibular joint clicking with different intraoral devices and counseling: a controlled study

Objective The benefit of the use of some intraoral devices in arthrogenous temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients is still unknown. This study assessed the effectiveness of the partial use of intraoral devices and counseling in the management of patients with disc displacement with reduction (DDWR) and arthralgia.Materials and Methods A total of 60 DDWR and arthralgia patients were randomly divided into three groups: group I (n=20) wore anterior repositioning occlusal splints (ARS); group II (n=20) wore the Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Clenching Suppression System devices (NTI-tss); and group III (n=20) only received counseling for behavioral changes and self-care (the control group). The first two groups also received counseling. Follow-ups were performed after 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months. In these sessions, patients were evaluated by means of a visual analogue scale, pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), maximum range of motion and TMJ sounds. Possible adverse effects were also recorded, such as discomfort while using the device and occlusal changes. The results were analyzed with ANOVA, Tukey’s and Fisher Exact Test, with a significance level of 5%.Results Groups I and II showed improvement in pain intensity at the first follow-up. This progress was recorded only after 3 months in Group III. Group II showed an increased in joint sounds frequency. The PPT values, mandibular range of motion and the number of occlusal contacts did not change significantly.Conclusion The simultaneous use of intraoral devices (partial time) plus behavioral modifications seems to produce a more rapid pain improvement in patients with painful DDWR. The use of NTI-tss could increase TMJ sounds. Although intraoral devices with additional counseling should be considered for the management of painful DDWR, dentists should be aware of the possible side effects of the intraoral device’s design.

Management of painful temporomandibular joint clicking with different intraoral devices and counseling: a controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The benefit of the use of some intraoral devices in arthrogenous temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients is still unknown. This study assessed the effectiveness of the partial use of intraoral devices and counseling in the management of patients with disc displacement with reduction (DDWR) and arthralgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 DDWR and arthralgia patients were randomly divided into three groups: group I (n=20) wore anterior repositioning occlusal splints (ARS); group II (n=20) wore the Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Clenching Suppression System devices (NTI-tss); and group III (n=20) only received counseling for behavioral changes and self-care (the control group). The first two groups also received counseling. Follow-ups were performed after 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months. In these sessions, patients were evaluated by means of a visual analogue scale, pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), maximum range of motion and TMJ sounds. Possible adverse effects were also recorded, such as discomfort while using the device and occlusal changes. The results were analyzed with ANOVA, Tukey's and Fisher Exact Test, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Groups I and II showed improvement in pain intensity at the first follow-up. This progress was recorded only after 3 months in Group III. Group II showed an increased in joint sounds frequency. The PPT values, mandibular range of motion and the number of occlusal contacts did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous use of intraoral devices (partial time) plus behavioral modifications seems to produce a more rapid pain improvement in patients with painful DDWR. The use of NTI-tss could increase TMJ sounds. Although intraoral devices with additional counseling should be considered for the management of painful DDWR, dentists should be aware of the possible side effects of the intraoral device's design.

Avaliação da eficácia em curto prazo do uso de placas oclusais reposicionadoras e dispositivos NTI (nociceptive trigeminal inhibitory splint) no controle de Artralgia da Articulação Temporomandibular / Short-term evaluation of the efficacy of the use of repositioning occlusal splints and NTI (nociceptive trigeminal inhibitory splint) in the control of Temporomandibular Joint Arthralgy

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi testar a hipótese de que o tratamento através de aparelhos oclusais (placas oclusais e dispositivo NTI) é benéfico na melhora dos sinais e sintomas de Artralgia da Articulação Temporomandibular (ATM) quando comparado a um grupo controle. Para isso, 60 indivíduos foram avaliados através de questionários e exames que determinaram a presença de Artralgia da ATM e sua intensidade. Essa amostra foi então dividida aleatoriamente em três grupos de 20 indivíduos cada um, sendo que, o primeiro grupo recebeu tratamento com placa reposicionadora rígida em uso parcial e técnicas de aconselhamento e mudanças comportamentais para pacientes com Disfunção Temporomandibular (DTM); o segundo, tratamento com NTI em uso parcial e técnicas de aconselhamento e mudanças comportamentais para pacientes com DTM; e o terceiro grupo, correspondente ao grupo controle, recebeu apenas técnicas de aconselhamento e mudanças comportamentais para pacientes com DTM. As placas foram instaladas e os controles realizados após duas, seis semanas e três meses. Os pacientes foram avaliados através de escala de análise visual de dor, presença de ruídos, abertura bucal ativa, algometria e conforto no uso dos aparelhos oclusais para os grupos experimentais. Os resultados foram analisados através dos testes estatísticos: Teste Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA e Tukey, adotando nível de significância de 5%. Os três grupos apresentaram melhora nos sinais e sintomas de Artralgia da ATM sugerindo que o tratamento com aparelhos oclusais e técnicas de aconselhamento e mudanças comportamentais parece ser benéfico ao paciente. No entanto, o uso de aparelhos oclusais parece promover uma melhora ao primeiro momento mais rápida, sendo ainda, o uso das placas oclusais e posicionadoras mais confortável ao paciente logo no início do tratamento contribuindo para uma diminuição mais rápida da sua dor. Os dispositivos NTI...

The aim of this research was to test the hypothesis that the treatment with intraoral appliances (occlusal splints and device NTI) is beneficial to the control of symptoms and signs of arthralgy of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) when compared to a control group. Therefore, sixty patients were analyzed by questionnaires and tests that determined the presence of arthralgy of the TMJ and its intensity. Then this sample was randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each: the first group was treated with repositioning occlusal splint and orientations; the second group received an anterior device (NTI nociceptive trigeminal inhibitory system), the third group of patients (the control group) just received counseling and orientations for behavioral changes. The devices were installed and used in partial time (only during sleep), and the follow-ups were performed after 2, 6 weeks and 3 months. In these sessions, patients were evaluated according the visual scale of pain (VAS), presence of noise, active mouth opening, temporomandibular joint algometry and comfort in the use of intraoral appliances for the experimental groups. The results were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA and Tukey, adopting a significance level of 5%. All three groups showed improvement in signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint arthralgy, suggesting that occlusal appliances and behavioural orientations may be beneficial in the treatment of this condition. However, the management with occlusal appliance and orientations seems to have an earlier effect. The use of occlusal repositioning splint is more comfortable at the beginning of the treatment of patients contributing to a faster reduction of their pain. Long - term studies with the NTI device are needed to establish its effectiveness and absence of adverse dental effects.