Position of Mandibular Condyles during Stabilization Splint Wearing

The purpose of this study was to determine the position of mandibular condyles during wearing of stabilization splints with different thickness. Two stabilization splints were made for 10 completely dentate participants. First splint was made with minimal 1 mm distance at molar area between the upper and lower teeth, while the second splint was made 3 mm higher than the first splint. Condylar position measurements during splint wearing were done using ultrasound jaw tracking device with six degrees of freedom at the antero-posterior (x), vertical (y) and lateral (z) axes. Linear deviation values were calculated from the values of the Cartesian coordinate system. The mean value of linear deviation between the habitual occlusion and the occlusion with stabilization splint made at 1 mm distance in molar area was 2.04±1.18 mm, while with stabilization splint made 3 mm higher than the first one it was 2.32±1.24 mm. Independent samples T test did not confirm statistically significant difference in deviation values between the splints of different thickness. Raising stabilization splint height does not change significantly the position of the condyle within the temporomandibular joint. Higher condylar distraction in the temporomandibular joint cannot be expected with ‘thicker’ stabilization splint.