Background: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) myalgia is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder characterized by orofacial pain and functional limitation. Occlusal soft splints are commonly used as a conservative treatment, offering comfort and ease of use. However, their clinical effectiveness remains debatable due to conflicting outcomes in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of occlusal soft splints therapy in TMJ myalgia patients. Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted on 20 patients diagnosed with TMJ myalgia based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders criteria. Each patient received a maxillary occlusal soft splint to be worn nocturnally for 3 months. Clinical parameters such as pain intensity using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), maximum interincisal opening (MIO), and masticatory muscle tenderness were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman test with Wilcoxon signed-rank post hoc comparisons were performed (α = 0.05). Results: VAS scores significantly reduced from a baseline mean of 6.6 ± 0.9 to 3.4 ± 1.2 at 6 weeks and 2.1 ± 1.1 at 3 months ( P < 0.001). MIO increased from 40.9 ± 5.3 mm at baseline to 44.6 ± 4.2 mm at 6 weeks and 48.2 ± 3.1 mm at 3 months ( P < 0.01). Muscle tenderness scores also showed a significant decrease over time ( P < 0.01). No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Occlusal soft splints therapy demonstrated significant clinical improvement in pain reduction, mandibular opening, and muscle tenderness in patients with TMJ myalgia, supporting its use as an effective conservative treatment option.
Amuthan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.