COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFECT OF STABILIZATION SPLINT AND ANTERIOR REPOSITIONING SPLINTS FOR CLICKING SOUND

OCCLUSAL REPOSITIONING SPLINT에 의한 악관절음(顎關節音)의 치료(治療)에 관한 비교연구(比較硏究)

This study conducted 2 types of occlusal splint therapy to eliminate clicking sound. 15 patients who had clicking on their joints were selected, and divided, at random, into 3 groups. In the first group, 4 persons put on stabilization splint and in the second group, 6 persons put on anterior repositioning splint which had made condyle to protrude 3mm, and in the last group, 5 persons put on anterior repositioning splint which had made condyle to protrude 6mm. Patients who wore anterior repositioning splint were instructed to use the splint for all days. The evaluation of clicking was measured by occlusal soundscope. The clicking was converted to aucostic signal by the attached microphone, instead of vibrating sensor The in-put aucostic signal on the occlusal soundscope made it possible to observe the experiment's result. Anterior repositioning splint was produced in the centric occlusion state, when the model was mounted to articulator and inserted two pieces of 3mm and 6mm resin blocks each into the rear wall of articulator fossa. The observation of the patients who wore three different splints for 3 weeks has reached the following conclusions: 1. Stabilization splint produced no effect in eliminating the clicking sound. 2. Anterior repositioning splint therapy with 3mm condylar protrusion produced significant improvement in eliminating the clicking sound. 3. The 6mm protruded anterior repositioning splint caused pain on affected TMJ area as well as the clicking on unaffected joint.