OCCLUSAL SPLINTS PRETREATMENT FOR LONG-TERM COMPLETE DENTURE WEARERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to answer the focused question: “Would the use of occlusal splints be bene cial prior to the rehabilitation of long-term complete denture wearers?” Eletronic searches were performed until November 2016 in MedLine (PubMed), ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs, Ibecs and the Cochrane Library. As eligibility criteria, any prospective or retrospective clinical trials that evaluated the use of occlusal splints in long-term complete denture wearers was selected. It was evaluated the extent of mandibular movements, pain symptomatology, intra-articular space, vertical dimension, and muscle activity. A total of 1152 potentially relevant records were identi ed from all databases. After title and abstract examination, 577 studies were excluded. Only 4 studies ful lled all the selection criteria. All studies were longitudinal, and the period using the occlusal splints ranged from 30 to 360 days. Electromyography was the main evaluation method used, but pain scales and electrognathography were also used in two studies. There is scienti c evidence supporting that occlusal splints pretreatment should be considered for patients whose long- term denture wearing experience is associated with compromised mandibular movements and vertical dimension of occlusion.