Oral health-related quality of life in patients with disc displacement with reduction after counselling treatment versus counselling associated with jaw exercises.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two types of treatment (counselling programme versus counselling programme plus jaw exercises) to improve the quality of life of patients with disc displacement with reduction (DDWR).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Patients were divided into two groups. The test group received guidelines for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) plus jaw exercises for DDWR, and the control group received only guidelines for TMD. The total number of investigated patients was 70, thus 35 per group. The oral health-related quality of life was assessed by the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Both groups were evaluated at the baseline and 30 days post-treatment.

RESULTS

In the counselling group, there was statistically significant decrease in pain (P = .015) and social disability (P = .046) subscales. In the counselling plus jaw exercise group, there was statistically significant decrease in all subscales (P < .05). At 30 days follow-up, there was a statically significant difference between the two groups in pain (P = .004), psychological discomfort (P < .001), psychological disability (P < .001) and social disability (P = .029) subscales.

CONCLUSION

The counselling programme plus jaw exercise protocol showed greater improvement in oral health-related quality of life than the group performing only the counselling programme in patients with DDWR.