The effect of splint therapy and electrical stimulation on temporomandibular disorders Download PDF

Introduction and purpose: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) facilitates the opening and closing movements of the lower jaw. One of the most common causes of orofacial pain disorder is TMD. The aim of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of occlusal splint and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 60 subjects: 20 in the control group who received related medication, 20 in the second treatment group who received dental splint along medication, and 20 in the third group who were treated with electrical stimulation along medication. We recorded pain before and after treatment. After collecting the data, we entered it into SPSS 21 and analyzed it using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Findings: Average pain scores before treatment in medication, splint, and TENS groups were, respectively, 6.25 ± 1.65, 6.70 ± 1.65, and 6.50 ± 1.53, and after treatment, respectively, 2.70 ± 1.30, 2.10 ± 0.78, and 2.30 ± 1.03. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that splint and TENS do not have significant differences in pain relief.