Kết quả giảm đau sau điều trị bằng máng nhai ổn định điều chỉnh có hỗ trợ của ghi khớp cắn số hóa ở người bệnh thoái hóa khớp thái dương hàm

Abstract

Temporomandibular osteoarthritis is a chronic intra-articular degenerative disorder commonly associated with persistent pain, impaired masticatory function, and reduced oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate pain intensity and its longitudinal changes in individuals with temporomandibular osteoarthritis treated with a stabilization splint, with occlusal adjustment assisted by a digital occlusal analysis system. This prospective longitudinal clinical study was conducted on 35 individuals diagnosed based on clinical examination and cone-beam computed tomography findings. All participants underwent treatment with a maxillary hard acrylic stabilization splint, which was adjusted using a digital occlusal analysis system to control occlusal force distribution. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following treatment initiation. The mean baseline VAS score was 6.86 ± 1.42. Pain intensity decreased progressively during follow-up, with mean VAS values of 4.80 at 1 month, 2.46 at 3 months, 0.54 at 6 months, and 0.06 at 12 months; differences across follow-up time points were statistically significant (p < 0.05). After 1 month, 74.3% of participants showed a reduction of at least one pain level, and no case of pain worsening was reported. By 6 months, the majority of participants were pain-free, and at 12 months, 97.1% reported no pain. The results suggest that stabilization splint therapy with digitally assisted occlusal adjustment was associated with a sustained reduction in pain intensity in individuals with temporomandibular osteoarthritis.