Effects of using occlusal splint on postural equilibrium in dentate, non-reprogrammed, individual with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder diagnosed via RDC/TMD and magnetic-resonance imaging

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) of multifactorial origin may be associated with occlusal factors but also with changes in posture. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of the occlusal splint on the postural equilibrium of non-reprogrammed, dentate individual with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder. The research group consisted of 70 patients (59 with occlusal splints, 21 in the control group) between 18 and 84 years of age, of both genders, diagnosed with TMD by way of the RDC/TMD questionnaire and magnetic-resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint. The research was performed via a randomized, controlled, prospective clinical study and intervention. The questionnaires regarding risk of falls - FES-I and quality of life - SF-36 were filled out before evaluating postural equilibrium by way of a force platform. In the randomization, the sample group received occlusal splint, occlusal-stability criteria, and advice about therapeutic exercises; the control group only received advice about therapeutic exercises. After 12 weeks, the groups were re-evaluated qualitatively by frequency, evaluation of the association between the group via Fisher testing; quantitatively via average, median, standard deviation, 25 and 75 percentiles, and minimum and maximum values; comparison between the times via non-parametric Wilcoxon testing and between the groups via Mann-Whitney testing with a threshold of significance of 5 %. Of the universe of the patients who completed the risk-of-fall and quality-of-life study, 77 % were women with an average of of 42.2 years. The items that were significant to the risk of falling contributed to reducing fear of falling, and those significant to quality of life to increasing the domains of mental health, pain, and vitality. Out of the 70 participants, 64 completed the RDC/TMD (47 occlusal splint and 17 controls) with differences that were significant to the diagnosis of miofascial pain, slipped disc, left and right arthralgia, degree of chronic pain, depression, and somatization related to the oclusal splint. Of the 70, 49 completed the postural-equilibrium study (36 occlusal splint and 13 controls), a significant increase in anteroposterior speed of the COP with eyes open and eyes closed (AVPeo and AVPec) occurring in the oclusal splint group while standing. It is therefore concluded that use of the oclusal splint was efficacious in the treatment of TJM and that there was an effect on the postural equilibrium, with improvement occurring in regards to fear of falls and in the domains of mental health, pain, and the quality of life.