From Volume 49, Issue 7, July 2022 | Pages 536-544
Appliances have been used in the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) for many years, and over this time designs have waxed and waned in popularity. The majority of appliance designs have few studies to support their use and what evidence is available, is often of low quality. This article, the fourth in a series of six, reviews the mechanisms of action, evidential support for, and provides advice on when to use commonly used appliance designs.
Appliance therapy has been used in TMD management for over a century, and despite being commonly prescribed, there remains a lack of conclusive evidence to support the efficacy of one design over another.1 The aim of this article is to describe and discuss the most commonly used occlusal appliances in the management of TMDs, to present their supporting evidence and to provide some pragmatic guidance to general dental practitioners.
The literature on this topic is heterogeneous in terms of methodology and outcome measures, and this variation continues into the use of nomenclature. To avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding, standardized terms are used throughout this article (Table 1).
SS are considered by many as the gold standard of appliance therapy for patients with a diagnosis of myofascial pain. In general, they are used alongside other conservative measures such as self-management, physical therapies and pharmacological treatments.2 Unfortunately, the literature on SS not only varies in quality, but is difficult to interpret and presents contradictory outcomes.3,4
Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
