Evaluation of disk capture with a splint repositioning appliance: clinical and critical assessment with MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate disk repositioning clinically and through use of magnetic resonance imaging after the insertion of a disk repositioning appliance.

STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-four patients with 82 temporomandibular joints showing middle to late opening movement click and closing movement click near maximum intercuspation were treated with a mandibular full-coverage repositioning splint. These joints were assessed clinically and by means of magnetic resonance imaging for disk recapture.

RESULTS: According to clinical assessment, 75.6% (62/82) of the joints were treated successfully; no click was observed from the splinted mandibular position. When compared with the results of magnetic resonance imaging assessment, clinical assessment showed an accuracy rate of 91.5%, although the incidence of the false negatives was high (40%).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that about 70% of reducing displaced disks were captured with use of the disk repositioning appliance. And it was also suggested that magnetic resonance imaging is helpful to evaluate disk repositioning therapy.