Professional paper

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Therapy by Occlusal Splint: A Case Report

Tomislav Badel ; University of Zagreb, School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Iva Alajbeg ; University of Zagreb, School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Miljenko Marotti ; University of Zagreb, Clinical Hospital “Sestre milosrdnice”, Zagreb, Croatia
Sandra Kocijan Lovko ; Zabok General Hospital, Psychiatric Outpatient Department, Zabok, Croatia

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorder is the term that includes all functional disturbances of temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles. This paper deals with one of the most common types of temporomandibular disorders that is articular disc displacement into an anterior position or so called articular disc dislocation. The most common risk factor related to this disorder is trauma. This can be a macrotrauma, such as an impact into the jaw, or microtrauma, which is related to chronic muscle hyperactivity or the occlusal instability. Magnetic resonance imaging is used for noninvasive evaluation of temporomandibular joints and soft tissues. Although irreversible therapeutic means are recommended for temporomandibular disorder treatment, the most common dental treatment is reversible and noninvasive which implies occlusal stabilization splint fabrication. This paper reports a case of a female patient with anterior articular disc displacement of her left temporomandibular joint and the treatment by a stabilization splint in order to obtain functional effi ciency of her masticatory system.

Keywords

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Bruxism; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Hrčak ID:

26734

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/26734

Publication date:

15.9.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 4.414 *