Effect of oral splints on muscular temporomandibular disorders in children: A systematic review

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a common chronic pain problem within the population. 1 These disorders can be classified using the Diagnostic criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) into three broad groups; muscle disorders; disc displacements and other common joint disorders. 2,3 These criteria are used worldwide and are known to be actuated. Pain associated with TMD affects not only the temporomandibular joint itself but also other structures including the head, neck, ear, back and teeth. [4][5][6] Further to this, TMD can have a significant impact on the quality of a patient's life such as sleep deprivation, difficulty in function and psychosocial aspects associated with chronic pain. 7,8 The literature reports the prevalence of TMD in children to be varied from 1% to 50%. [9][10][11][12] In recent years, there has been a reported increase in children presenting with myofascial pain, as diagnosed using the DC/TMD criteria, to their general dental practitioners, to community dental services and secondary care providers.