Kimmel S S
J Gen Orthod. 1994 Sep;5(3):5-11.
Temporomandibular disorders are of multifactorial origin. If it is determined that the patient's occlusal scheme is a contributing factor to his/her TMD symptoms, it is accepted that reversible, noninvasive procedures be instituted at the outset of treatment. Splint therapy conforms to this guideline and serves to provide temporary, reversible alteration of the occlusal scheme in order to provide this relief. In a mutually protected occlusion, the posterior teeth accept the occlusal force of closure, while the anterior teeth serve to separate the dentition during excursive movements. The purpose of the disclusion splint described in this article is to eliminate muscle hypertonicity, along with its ensuing problems, by establishing a mutually protected occlusion via the guide planes created by the acrylic portions of the splint. Simultaneously, it does not compromise the patient's freeway space but acts as a preorthodontic, adjunctive-orthodontic, or post-TMD "stabilization-retentive" appliance because of its inherent ability to promote disarticulation of occluding dental surfaces during function.
颞下颌关节紊乱病病因多方面。若确定患者的咬合方案是其颞下颌关节紊乱病症状的一个促成因素，那么在治疗开始时采用可逆、非侵入性程序是可接受的。牙合板治疗符合这一指导原则，旨在暂时、可逆地改变咬合方案以缓解症状。在相互保护牙合中，后牙承受闭合时的牙合力，而前牙在非正中运动时使牙列分开。本文所述的分牙合牙合板的目的是通过由牙合板的丙烯酸部分形成的导平面建立相互保护牙合，从而消除肌肉张力亢进及其引发的问题。同时，它不影响患者的息止颌间隙，而是作为正畸前、正畸辅助或颞下颌关节紊乱病后的“稳定保持”矫治器，因为其在功能过程中具有促进咬合牙面分离的内在能力。
