Management of temporomandibular joint arthropathy: comparison of three non-invasive protocols

Comparison of modified occlusal splint and conventional physical therapy in the management of temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction and intermittent locking: a randomized controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN15536327

Enrollment

Registered

2024-09-09

Start date

2018-10-18

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction and intermittent locking Oral Health

Interventions

The effectiveness of standard splint protocol (Group 1) modified occlusal splint protocol (Group 2), and conventional physical therapy with exercises (Group 3) will be compared. Patients shall be rand

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Joint sounds and impairment of jaw movements 2. A positive diagnosis of TMJ disc displacement with reduction and intermittent locking (DDwRwIL) based on clinical inspection 3. Patients of DDwR with intermittent locking confirmed by MRI examination 4. Adults (=18 years) 5. Able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Contraindication for MRI (such as patients with any metallic prosthesis or artificial pacemakers) 2. TMJ disc displacement without reduction (DDWoR) 3. Previous facial bone fracture 4. If they had already received any treatment before the MRI

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Pain at rest and mastication assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 to 10, the extremes of which were ‘no pain’ and ‘pain as bad as the patient ever experienced’ at baseline, 1 year (T1), 2 years (T2), 3 years (T3), 4 years (T4)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Mastication competence assessed using a VAS from 0 to 10, the extremes of which were ‘eating only semi-liquid food’ and ‘eating solid hard food’, at baseline, 1 year (T1), 2 years (T2), 3 years (T3), 4 years (T4) 2. Functional limitation during usual jaw movements assessed using a Likert-type scale (0 - absent, 1 - slight, 2 - moderate, 3 - intense, 4 - severe) at baseline (T0) and the T1 after one year, 2 years (T2), 3 years (T3), and after 4 years (T4)	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Mastication competence assessed using a VAS from 0 to 10, the extremes of which were ‘eating only semi-liquid food’ and ‘eating solid hard food’, at baseline, 1 year (T1), 2 years (T2), 3 years (T3), 4 years (T4) 2. Functional limitation during usual jaw movements assessed using a Likert-type scale (0 - absent, 1 - slight, 2 - moderate, 3 - intense, 4 - severe) at baseline (T0) and the T1 after one year, 2 years (T2), 3 years (T3), and after 4 years (T4)

—

Countries

Italy

Contacts

Public ContactGianluca Tartaglia

gianluca.tartaglia@unimi.it+39 (0)250320236

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026