Comparative Assessment of Occlusal Splint and Mandibular Deprogramming on Temporomandibular Joint Function and Pain during Orthodontic Treatment

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular symptoms may coexist with orthodontic treatment and can complicate pain control and functional assessment. Occlusal splints and mandibular deprogramming are conservative approaches intended to reduce abnormal muscle activity and help establish a reproducible mandibular position. Methods: A comparative two-group dataset of 200 participants was reviewed, comprising 100 participants allocated to an occlusal-splint group and 100 to a mandibular-deprogramming group. Baseline age, sex, 0–10 visual analogue scale (VAS) pain, maximum mouth opening (MMO), TMJ tenderness, joint sounds, and opening deviation were summarized and compared using Welch's t test or chi-square testing as appropriate. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups: mean age was 26.8±5.4 versus 27.1±5.7 years, VAS pain was 6.4±1.2 versus 6.5±1.1, and MMO was 38.6±4.1 versus 38.2±4.3 mm in the occlusal-splint and deprogramming groups, respectively. TMJ tenderness was present in 67.0% and 69.0%, joint sounds in 54.0% and 57.0%, and opening deviation in 31.0% and 34.0%, respectively; none of these baseline comparisons was statistically significant.
Conclusion: The supplied dataset demonstrates good baseline comparability but does not contain follow-up measurements; therefore, treatment efficacy or superiority cannot be validly inferred from these data. Advancement to knowledge: The study provides a standardized baseline framework for prospective comparison of occlusal splint therapy and mandibular deprogramming during orthodontic treatment, with VAS pain and MMO as readily reproducible primary outcomes.