AN EFFECT OF COMBINATION WITH ARTHROCENTESIS AND STABILIZATION SPLINT TREATMENT ON TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER PATIENT

ABSTRACT

patients with temporomandibular joint disorder before and after performance of arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy. The subjects of this study were 33 patients with limited mouth opening or pain or joint effusion who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea. The arthrocentesis was performed and the stabilization splint was worn immediately after the arthrocentesis. Comparing the clinical outcomes of treatment at the times of first medical examination, 3 months and 6 months later on treatment. The results are as follows; 1. Statistically significant increase in the amount of maximum mouth opening occurred 3 months and 6 months later on treatment. 2. Statistically significant decrease in the average value of pain on test measured by VAS during maximum mouth opening, protrusive movement, right lateral movement, left lateral movement occured 3 months and 6 months later on treatment. The results suggested that arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy provide a improvement on patients with temporomandibular joint disorder when the exact diagnosis were provided.