Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Francisco Artur Forte; FERNANDES, Clarissa Pessoa; CHAVES, Filipe Nobre  and  MAGRO, Lorena Barreira. The approval rating through the use of an interocclusal device. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.61, n.1, pp. 85-91. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the approval rating of patients with muscular and/or joint TMD during the use of an interocclusal device. Methods 51 consenting patients were selected with muscular and/or joint TMD, according to the criteria of the Research Diagnostic Criteria protocol (RDC/TMD) and needing the use of an interocclusal device as part of a conservative treatment at the São Leopoldo Mandic Dental Research Center in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The interocclusal device was installed using the protocol defined by the manufacturer for its use and adaptation. The satisfaction questionnaire was applied to the subjects of the research after 30 days using the interocclusal device. Results The results were: 71% of the patients had felt comfortable using the device; 73% used the device all night long, but 27% removed it at some time during the night, and 5 of these patients removed it every night, thus they did not succeed in using this type of device; 88% used it daily; 70% achieved the greatest relief from the main complaint in the first 3 weeks; 61% did not notice any change in bite; 47% did not feel any kind of tooth sensitivity; 51% did not grind their teeth with the use of the device and 72% took one or two weeks to get used to the device. Conclusion The majority obtained a high level of rating approval during the use of an interocclusal device.

Keywords : Instrumentation; Patient satisfaction; Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome.