A randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of an external mandibular support device during dental care for patients with temporomandibular disorders

This study tested a jaw support device for patients receiving dental care while suffering from temporomandibular joint pain. This crossover randomized trial used 31 subjects with jaw pain. Subjects underwent 2 consecutive dental scaling sessions of 30 minutes each. For each subject, the device was used for 1 of the sessions. Subjects completed questionnaires regarding jaw pain and jaw fatigue before and after each session. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess the device's effectiveness in preventing the aggravation of pain and fatigue during dental treatment. Statistically significant differences were found for jaw pain (P= 0.001), and fatigue (P= 0.04), indicating the effectiveness of the device. Based on the results, supporting the mandible of patients with temporomandibular disorders during dental treatments may prevent further pain.