• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.173-187
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• 1989

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of stabilization occlusal splint by using a simplified condylar path recorder and a dental sound checker. For this study, 11 subjects (10 men and 1 woman) with TMJ disorder were selected from students at Chosun University, School of Dentistry. And they were treated with the stabilization occlusal splint. The condylar movement and the TMJ sound of each subject were recorded and analyzed by using a simplified condylar path recorder and a dental sound checker. The obtained results were as follows: 1. No statistically significant reduction of reduced PRI scores occurred before and immediately after wearing of stabilization occlusal splint. 2. The reduced PRI scores after wearing of stabilization occlusal splint showed statistically significant reduction with the lapse of time. 3. After stabilization occlusal splint therapy, Fisher angle and Bennett angle had almost no change. 4. TMJ sound disappeared in 4 out of 11 subjects.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2021

Various conditions such as pain or effusion of temporomandibular joint, degenerative condylar resorption, and articular disc displacement can be a cause of malocclusion. However, the reasons of occlusal changes are ambiguous in some patients. Unexpected occlusal change in patients with or without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptom was mostly caused by masticatory muscular disorders. This article reports two cases of recovery of occlusal relationship in TMDs patients after stabilization splint therapy. Stabilization splint therapy could be useful in certain conditions of occlusal changes in TMD.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.204-212
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare changes of bite force, occlusal contact area, and dynamic functional occlusion analysis after occlusal stabilization splint therapy during sleep for one month in a patient with bruxism. Materials and Methods: From October 2021 to July 2022, sleep bruxism of 30 patients who visited the Department of Oral Medicine at Yonsei University College of Dentistry Hospital were recruited. The participants were divided into two groups: using an occlusal stabilization splint during sleep (treatment; n = 15) and not using an occlusal stabilization splint (control; n = 15). Before using the occlusal stabilization splint and one month after, bite force, occlusal contact area and dynamic functional occlusion analysis (ratio of left/right bite forces, average bite forces, maximum bite forces, and maximum contact areas during lateral and anterior and posterior mandibular movements) were performed. Results: There was no difference in bite force and occlusal contact area between the treatment group using the occlusal stabilization splint and the control group not using the occlusal stabilization splint during sleep for one month. However, there were significant differences in the average bite force and maximum bite force in the lateral and anterior and posterior mandibular movements and the maximum contact areas in the anterior and posterior mandibular movements. Conclusion: The occlusal stabilization splint is helpful for sleep bruxism patients who lateral and anterior and posterior mandibular movements. In addition, further studies are needed a double-blind study with a large population.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.30 no.1 s.78
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• pp.91-99
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• 2000

This study was done to identify the changes of bite force and occlusal contact between before and after stabilization splint therapy. 16 female patients, accepted for orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Chosun University, were selected as the sample of this investigation. For comparisons, the samples of 16 were divided into just before stabilization splint, 1 month after stabilization splint, 2 months after stabilization splint, and 3 months after stabilization splint and used the T-scan system to identify the bite force and occlusal contact changes for each group. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out ANOVA tests, and Turkey tests using $SPSS/PC^+$. The results were as follows : 1. Bite force change from just before treatment to 1 month after stabilization splint therapy was statistical significantly decreased (P<0.05). 2. Bite force changes from 1 to 3 months after stabilization splint therapy showed no statistical significance (p>0.05). 3. The changes of anterior occlusal contacts showed no statistical significance regardless of the wearing periods of stabilization splint (P>0.05). 4. The changes of posterior occlusal contacts from just before treatment to 1 month after stabilization splint therapy was statistical significantly decreased (P<0.05). 5. The changes of posterior occlusal contacts Outing 1 to 3 months after stabilization splint therapy showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). 6. Posterior teeth rather than anterior teeth were more influenced by the changes of the number of occlusal contacts. To sum up above results, we may respect to capturing and stabilizing centric relation Position just 1 month after stabilization splint therapy.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2007

Occlusal stabilization appliance is one of the most common treatment option for management of temporomandibular disorders. It acts in oral cavity for several hours per day, and usually it will take at least 6 months to 2 years of total wearing periods to take a treatment goal. In the oral cavity, occlusal stabilization appliance, unintentional manner, is able to acts as a reservoir of bacteria and protect bacteria from saliva and oxygen. This condition is so favorable to many bacteria such as S. mutans and other anaerobes, usually have been reported as causative factors of dental caries, periodontal disease and oral malodor. In this study, we investigated anaerobic bacteria and S. mutans count before and after occlusal stabilization appliance use to evaluate the possible role of occlusal stabilization appliance as protector of these bacteria. Four men(average 27.5 years) wore maxillary occlusal stabilization appliance at each night(average 9 hours) for 5 days. we swabbed saliva-plaque mixed sample at 3 different site(maxillary left 2nd molar, maxillary left central incisor, mandibular left 2nd molar) before and after occlusal stabilization appliance use. Each samples were plated in (1) anaerobic blood agar medium, (2) selective S. mutans medium(MS-MUTV) and incubated in anaerobic chamber($CO^2$ 10%, $37^{\circ}C$) for 72 hours. Each bacterial colony forming unit(CFU) were counted with naked eyes. From obtained data, we can conclude as follows: 1. There was some changes about anaerobic bacteria and S. mutans count in oral cavity after occlusal stabilization appliance use. 2. The number of anaerobic bacteria was significantly increased at maxillary 2nd molar(P=0.003), maxillary central incisor(P=0.020) after occlusal stabilization appliance use compared with before. 3. Occlusal stabilization appliance use itself had indirect effect to increase the number of anaerobic bacteria at other uncovered opponent tooth site. 4. The number of S. mutans was significantly increased at maxillary 2nd molar(P=0.043), maxillary central incisor (P=0.049) after occlusal stabilization appliance use compared with before. 5. Occlusal stabilization appliance use itself had not any effect on the number of S. mutans at other uncovered opponent tooth site.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2013

PURPOSE. Occlusal splints are commonly used to prevent tooth wear caused by bruxism. However, the effects of splints on occlusion are still unclear. Although it is rarely alluded in literature, splints can provoke severe occlusal alterations and other complications. This study was aimed to identify differences in the responses of individuals with bruxism and healthy individuals to a full-arch maxillary stabilization splint in terms of occlusal changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Occlusal contacts in 20 (5 male, 15 female) bruxism patients and 20 (5 male, 15 female) controls with normal occlusion were evaluated before and after occlusal splint therapy. T-Scan III, a computerized occlusal analysis system, was used to simultaneously measure occlusion and disclusion times as well as left-right and anterior-posterior contact distributions before splint therapy and 3 months after therapy. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analyses (${\alpha}$=.05). RESULTS. No differences were found in the posterior contact of bruxism patients before and after stabilization splint treatment. However, differences in posterior contact were observed between bruxists and normal individuals prior to treatment, and this difference disappeared following treatment. CONCLUSION. The results of this study showed the use of a stabilization splint may not have an effect on occlusion. However, the area of posterior occlusal contact among bruxists was found to be greater than that of normal individuals. According to this study, the clinical use of splints may be harmless.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2014

PURPOSE. The occlusal splint has been used for many years as an effective treatment of sleep bruxism. Several methods have been used to evaluate efficiency of the occlusal splints. However, the effect of the occlusal splints on occlusal force has not been clarified sufficiently. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal splints on maximum occlusal force in patients with sleep bruxism and compare two type of splints that are Bruxogard-soft splint and canine protected hard stabilization splint. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twelve students with sleep bruxism were participated in the present study. All participants used two different occlusal splints during sleep for 6 weeks. Maximum occlusal force was measured with two miniature strain-gage transducers before, 3 and 6 weeks after insertion of occlusal splints. Clinical examination of temporomandibular disorders was performed for all individuals according to the Craniomandibular Index (CMI) before and 6 weeks after the insertion of splints. The changes in mean occlusal force before, 3 and 6 weeks after insertion of both splints were analysed with paired sample t-test. The Wilcoxon test was used for the comparison of the CMI values before and 6 weeks after the insertion of splints. RESULTS. Participants using stabilization splints showed no statistically significant changes in occlusal force before, 3, and 6 weeks after insertion of splint (P>.05) and participants using Bruxogard-soft splint had statistically significant decreased occlusal force 6 weeks after insertion of splint (P<.05). There was statistically significant improvement in the CMI value of the participants in both of the splint groups (P<.05). CONCLUSION. Participants who used Bruxogard-soft splint showed decreases in occlusal force 6 weeks after insertion of splint. The use of both splints led to a significant reduction in the clinical symptoms.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between possible occlusal change after stabilization splint therapy and the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I diagnoses and lateral cephalometric variables. Methods: Clinical and radiographic records of 47 TMD patients wearing stablization splint were reviewed. The number of occluding teeth was recorded and lateral cephalogram was taken at pre-treatment and 6-month post-treatment. They were divided into two groups. The control group consists of patients with the unchanged number of occluding teeth throughout 6-month splint therapy (19 females and 4 males), and occlusal-loss group with the number of occluding teeth decreased (19 females and 5 males). The difference of RDC/TMD diagnoses and cephalometric variables were compared between two groups. Results: In the control group, RDC group I, muscle disorders, was 39.1% (9/23), group II, disc displacements, was 17.4% (4/23), group III OA, osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis, was 73.9% (17/23), and group III pain, arthralgia, was 82.6% (19/23). In the occlusal-loss group, group I was 41.7% (10/24), group II was 41.7% (10/24), group III OA was 70.8% (17/24), and group III pain was 83.3% (20/24). The frequency of RDC groups was not different between two groups, analyzed by binomial logistic regression. Pre-treatment cephalometric variables were not different between two groups. However, articular angle, AB to mandibular plane and ODI decreased and gonial angle increased significantly in the occlusal-loss group, implying clockwise rotation of the mandible, between pre-treatment and 6-month post-treatment, while none of cephalometric variables showed any statistical difference in the control group. Conclusions: Change in the number of occluding teeth was not related to the RDC/TMD diagnoses. Cephalometric values changed only in the occlusal-loss group as a result of mandibular clockwise rotation. None of cephalometric variables before the stabilization splint therapy was statistically different between the control and occlusal loss group.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2003

Suppose that dental occlusion is related to body posture. We want to find out that improving occlusal balance may affect vibration and distribution of C.O.P. in which way, by measuring change of posture and center of gravity (center of pressure, C.O.P.) which plays important role in measuring balance sensation. Total 11 students at Kyung Hee dental college students, 4 females and 9 males (age: 23-30) participated in this test, who have normal occlusion (Angle's classification I), no TMJ problems. All of the participants have no tooth loss except 3rd molar, no prosthesis over single tooth restoration, no orthopedic problems which affect balance sensation, and no otorhinolaryngological problems. First, we registrated bite by centric relation, and then fabricated stabilization splint that is increased 3.5mm vertical dimension around premolar region. By F-scan (Tekscan Inc., Boston, Mass), we measured discrepancy of average contact pressure of left and right foot. And we also measured discrepancy of vibration of C.O.P(center of pressure). before setting stabilization splint and after wearing stabilization splint at intervals of 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks after. In normal human beings, improved occlusal balance by stabilization splint leads to decrease of vibration of C.O.P. (P<0.05). One week after wearing stabilization splint, vibration of C.O.P. decreased reliably (P<0.05), two weeks after wearing stabilization splint, vibration of C.O.P. decreased similarly comparing to before wearing and one week after wearing. (P<0.05) After two weeks and three weeks, however, it was hard to find reliability. (P>0.05) Difference between average contact pressure of right and left foot also decreased. (P<0.05) We could find decrease after one week of wearing stabilization splint (P<0.05) and two weeks after, the decrease was more reliable than one week after. (P<0.05) After two weeks and three weeks, however, it was hard to find reliability. Improvement of occlusal balance leads to decrease of vibration of C.O.P. and decrease of difference between right and left average contact pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Esthetic Dentistry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2023

A patient with para-functional habits can cause widespread teeth wear, along with temporomandibular joint disorders and myofascial pain syndrome in the masticatory muscles. Prolonged teeth wear is associated with a decrease in vertical occlusal dimension, leading to issues such as changes in facial morphology, decreased masticatory efficiency, and temporomandibular joint disorders. To achieve a three-dimensional full-mouth rehabilitation in patients with decreased vertical occlusal dimension, accurate diagnosis, analysis, and proactive treatment planning are essential. Prosthetic treatment accompanied by the restoration of physiological vertical occlusal dimension and the re-establishment of a normal occlusal plane is necessary. This case report presents a full-mouth rehabilitation case involving a patient with overall teeth wear, showing decreased vertical occlusal dimension which results in discomfort in the temporomandibular joint and aesthetic dissatisfaction. The report highlights the successful outcome achieved through the use of occlusal stabilization splint for temporomandibular joint stability and Gothic arch tracing devices for the re-establishment of intermaxillary relationships. Also, through adjustments and adaptation assessment using provisional prostheses, favorable outcomes were achieved both functionally and aesthetically.