[Short-term effects of the Michigan splint on muscular and joint pain].

BACKGROUND

In 1966 Ramfjord and Ash proposed the Michigan's splint that, at present, is one of the splints widely accepted for the treatment of craniomandibular disorders (CMD).

METHODS

For this study, thirty-one subjects were examined according to the protocol of the European Academy of CMD; each patient indicated the intensity of pain using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). After therapy with Michigan's splint, the visit was repeated and the patient indicated again the VAS.

RESULTS

The results showed that the splint has short-term benefit effects on the muscular and articular pain, even if the effects are lesser on the articular pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The Michigan's splint is a valid device for therapy of CMD, moreover it is very cheap, very easy to use and without contraindications.