Objective <p>To describe the clinical and radiographic outcomes associated with the use of a novel posterior occlusal splint (nPOS) in adults with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) and its impact on condylar morphology, as assessed by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).</p> Methods and materials <p>This retrospective study included 156 adult patients (24 males, 132 females; mean age: 27.05 ± 9.18 years) diagnosed with TMJ-OA, with 182 osteoarthritis (OA)-like condyles. All patients received treatment with the nPOS between January 2020 and December 2024. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at six time points: T0 (baseline), T1 (1 month), T2 (3 months), T3 (6 months), T4 (12 months), and T5 (24 months) after treatment initiation. CBCT assessments of condylar morphology were performed at T0, T3, T4, and T5. Wilcoxon signed-rank test, paired t test, McNemar test were employed to evaluate longitudinal changes in clinical symptoms.</p> Results <p>Significant improvements in maximum mouth opening (MMO) were observed from T2 to T4 (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). Significant reductions in spontaneous pain were observed at both T3 and T4 (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01), while reductions in joint tenderness and joint noises were statistically confirmed at T3 (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). No significant changes were noted for intermittent closed lock (ICL), muscle pain, push-back mandibular test, or altered mouth opening patterns (<i>P</i> &gt; 0.01). CBCT showed a significant improvement in condylar cortical score at T3 compared to T0 (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01).</p> Conclusion <p>In this observational study, the use of nPOS was associated with improvements in key TMJ-OA symptoms and condylar morphology, especially during the early to mid-treatment phase (3–12 months). These findings warrant validation in randomized controlled trials before clinical adoption. Furthermore, long-term effects require further investigation.</p>

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Clinical and radiographic outcomes of a novel posterior occlusal splint in adults with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: a retrospective case series

  • Zhenlong Liu,
  • Junxi Feng,
  • Liwen Huang,
  • Yunyi Yuan,
  • Rong Zhang,
  • Xingyang Li,
  • Qingbin Zhang,
  • Antong Wu,
  • Wei Cao

摘要

Objective

To describe the clinical and radiographic outcomes associated with the use of a novel posterior occlusal splint (nPOS) in adults with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) and its impact on condylar morphology, as assessed by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods and materials

This retrospective study included 156 adult patients (24 males, 132 females; mean age: 27.05 ± 9.18 years) diagnosed with TMJ-OA, with 182 osteoarthritis (OA)-like condyles. All patients received treatment with the nPOS between January 2020 and December 2024. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at six time points: T0 (baseline), T1 (1 month), T2 (3 months), T3 (6 months), T4 (12 months), and T5 (24 months) after treatment initiation. CBCT assessments of condylar morphology were performed at T0, T3, T4, and T5. Wilcoxon signed-rank test, paired t test, McNemar test were employed to evaluate longitudinal changes in clinical symptoms.

Results

Significant improvements in maximum mouth opening (MMO) were observed from T2 to T4 (P < 0.01). Significant reductions in spontaneous pain were observed at both T3 and T4 (P < 0.01), while reductions in joint tenderness and joint noises were statistically confirmed at T3 (P < 0.01). No significant changes were noted for intermittent closed lock (ICL), muscle pain, push-back mandibular test, or altered mouth opening patterns (P > 0.01). CBCT showed a significant improvement in condylar cortical score at T3 compared to T0 (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

In this observational study, the use of nPOS was associated with improvements in key TMJ-OA symptoms and condylar morphology, especially during the early to mid-treatment phase (3–12 months). These findings warrant validation in randomized controlled trials before clinical adoption. Furthermore, long-term effects require further investigation.