EVALUATION OF CLINICAL AND LABORATORIAL TIMES, AND COMFORT OF DIGITAL AND CONVENTIONAL OCLUSAL SPLINTS: A PILOT CLINICAL TRIAL
Occlusal splints; Bruxism; Computer-Aided Design;
The Occlusal Splints (OS) are indicated for the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and sleep bruxism. There is still little scientific evidence comparing the OS made by CAD / CAM and the conventional ones in relation to the adjustment time for installing the splints, and the clinical and laboratory confection time. The present study aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory time of confection of conventional splints (CS) with thermopolymerizable resins and those milled (MS) by CAD / CAM systems in patients with sleep bruxism. In addition, the installation time and comfort of patients using the plates were compared. A clinical trial was carried out with 20 patients (7 CS; 13 MS) who had a probable diagnosis of bruxism through the application of questionnaires and clinical evaluation. The clinical and laboratory confection times for the respective stages were timed. Comfort was assessed using a visual analog scale after the stages of clinical confection and after 30 days of splint use. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the results was performed. Preliminary results showed an average time of clinical preparation and installation of 58% and 33% less for MS compared to CS, respectively. Laboratory time 7% shorter for MS. It was reported that MS were 24% and 17% more comfortable than CS during the stages of clinical confection and after 30 days of use, respectively. From the results it was possible to observe a great decrease in the time of clinical preparation when employing the digital flow that is used for the preparation of PF and a considerable decrease in the time of clinical installation. The laboratory time proved to be similar, but the conventional method required direct labor in most stages. In addition, the “digital” plates provided greater comfort in clinical confection and usage.