EVALUATION OF OCCLUSAL SPLINT THERAPY WITH CHANGES IN SALIVARY OXIDATIVE STATUS AND CLINICAL SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT MYALGIA” - A COMPARATIVE AND PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) encompass the most common painful musculoskeletal and
neuromuscular orofacial conditions and affect jaw joints, masticatory muscles, and the surrounding
structures. The main goal of TMD therapy is the reduction of clinical symptoms such as pain and limited lower jaw movement.
Research has recently suggested that oxidative stress (OS) can play a part in the pathophysiological processes that occur in
TMD. OS occurs as a result of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favour of oxidants, and it is believed to play a
role in various adverse processes in an organism. Studies have found signicant differences in the expression of OS
biomarkers and antioxidants between TMD patients and healthy individuals. This study evaluates the change in salivary
oxidative stress in patients with temporomandibular joint myalgia before and after occlusal soft splint therapy. The result
indicates that there was a signicant difference in clinical parameters of visual analog scale (VAS), Maximal comfortable
mouth opening (MCO) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) with P value <0.001. Among all biochemical parameters, TAC (Total
anti oxidative capacity) showed statistically signicant changes in post operative ndings. All the patients with
temporomandibular joint myalgia experienced a decrease in their clinical symptoms and salivary oxidative stress markers. the
salivary biochemical assay performed to evaluate the oxidative stress revealed improved antioxidant capacity, indicating a
compensatory mechanism to lower oxidative stress.