Effects of Occlusal Splint and Therapeutic Home Exercises

The panoramic open-mouth and close-mouth radiographs of the first group(splint group) were taken, and intraoral and extraoral examinations were performed by an experienced dentist that also examined the radiographs. The upper jaw of the patients was measured with an alginate impression material, to obtain a hard plaster model. Then, using these models, a vacuum plate machine made a customized mandibular oral occlusal splint suitable for each patient's teeth. The suitability of the splints was checked and confirmed by the dentist on the first and seventh days of use. The patients were asked to use these splints at night (for at least six hours) throughout the study.

This program was created by combining patient training and a home exercise program. The exercise program consisted of slow passive and active mouth opening and closing exercises, isometric masseter exercises, mouth stretching exercises, and resistant mouth opening and closing exercises. Each exercise set was administered twice a day, and each movement was undertaken for 10 seconds and repeated 15 times. The training was given by an experienced physical medicine and rehabilitation expert over approximately 45 minutes. The exercise program was demonstrated for the patients in front of a mirror, and each exercise was performed by a set of patients under the supervision of a doctor. A training document including the written exercise program was to the patients in the exercises group.