[Splint therapy in temporomandibular dysfunction].

In a study of 118 patients with temporomandibular dysfunction treated with occlusal splint therapy, symptoms of pain and limited mobility of the mandible had decreased more distinct than clicking sounds of the temporomandibular joints. Interestingly, an untreated control group showed similar results after two years follow-up.

Diagnostic subgroups of craniomandibular disorders. Part II: Symptom profiles.

An overview is given of the following four well-defined diagnostic subgroups of patients who have craniomandibular disorders: those with a mainly myogenous component; those with internal derangement with reduction; those with internal derangement without reduction; and those with osteoarthrosis. Although it was inevitable that the subgroups were not completely homogeneous, symptom profiles differed considerably. There even seemed to be reasons to distinguish two osteoarthrosis groups in future research.

Diagnostic subgroups of craniomandibular disorders. Part I: Self-report data and clinical findings.

An overview is given of the most commonly investigated signs and symptoms associated with craniomandibular disorders as detected in a population of patients with craniomandibular disorders and in four defined diagnostic subgroups. The information was collected with a questionnaire and during an extensive clinical examination. Comparison of self-report and clinical data indicated that these two methods reveal different aspects of the patient's complaints and should be interpreted in their own way.

Reliability of clinical findings in temporomandibular disorders.

The aim of the present investigation was to study the interexaminer reliability of orthopedic tests and palpation techniques routinely used in the clinical diagnosis of disorders of the masticatory system. The tests were performed by a dentist and a physiotherapist, who both used the tests routinely when examining patients with temporomandibular disorders. Seventy-nine patients participated in this study.

Craniomandibular dysfunction: patient characteristics related to treatment outcome.

In a previous study it was concluded that only a few changes in symptoms related to craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) could be attributed to therapy. It was suggested that psychosocial and socio-demographic variables, as well as symptom characteristics, could be responsible for the unconvincing treatment outcome in patients treated with a splint. The present study was performed to investigate whether socio-demographic characteristics, symptom characteristics and various psychosocial variables are associated with treatment outcome in patients with CMD treated with a splint.