A novel vibratory stimulation‐based occlusal splint for alleviation of TMD painful symptoms: a pilot study

Summary This pilot study introduces a novel vibratory stimulation‐based occlusal splint ( VibOS ) for management of pain related to temporomandibular disorders ( TMD ). The study sample consisted of 10 patients (mean age: 40·5 ± 13·7 years, male/female: 3/7) who were using stabilisation splints for more than 2 months prior to the study onset and still complained of pain. Patients utilised the active and inactive VibOS during 15 days in a crossover designed clinical trial. The analysed variables were self‐reported VAS pain levels and number of painful sites to palpation ( PSP ). Statistical analysis was performed with repeated measures anova . At baseline, mean VAS pain levels for group I and II were 45·6 ± 21·0 mm and 37·4 ± 16·3 mm, respectively. Comparison between these baseline values showed no statistical difference ( P  > 0·05, unpaired t ‐test). In group I, the inactive VibOS caused a slight increase in VAS pain levels, whereas the active VibOS promoted a significant decrease in VAS pain levels and PSP ( P  < 0·01). In group II, which received the active VibOS first, a significant decrease in VAS levels ( P  < 0·05) and in PSP ( P  < 0·01) was observed. No significant decrease in VAS pain levels or PSP ( P  > 0·05) was observed with the use of the inactive VibOS . In conclusion, this study demonstrated a good tendency of this novel VibOS in the alleviation of painful symptoms related to TMD after a 15‐day management period compared to control VibOS .