Influence of the Splint Therapy on Muscle Function and on Mandibular Kinetics in the Treatment of a Patient with Malocclusion and Severe Temporomandibular Disorder

INTRODUCTION: Despite the most recent changes in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, the relaxation splint is still the most employed therapeutic variety.Some authors, however, have doubts about its actions on neuromuscular function and suspect that its effectiveness is onlydue to psychological factors and placebo effect. AIM: In this study an attempt was made to study the neuromuscular response of the stomatognathic apparatus in a temporomandibular disorder patient during splint therapy in order to evaluate its therapeutic effectiveness. MATERIAL AND METHODS:We performed a clinical examination, occlusal analysis and electromyographic and kinesiographic tests in a patient with bruxism, malocclusion and severe temporomandibular disorder, in order to compare the results with those obtained after two months of splint treatment. For this purpose we used a K6I electromyograph and kinesiograph device, the Helkimo test and a Dentatus ARL articulator. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After two months wearing the splint, the patient reports symptomatic improvement. Joint and muscle pain are reduced. The study of the mandibular kinetics shows a wider range of movements and less deviation of the midline in openclose recordings. Electromyography shows an improvement of masseter muscle function in clenching and chewing tests and a decrease of temporalis muscle hypertonicity in the mandibular rest position. Furthermore, the function of all the muscles explored, despite the lateral crossbite malocclusion, is more symmetrical