Remodeling dental anatomy vs sham therapy for chronic temporomandibular disorders: A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

Background: Evidence regarding the etiology or effective treatments for chronic orofacial pain, the majority diagnosed as temporomandibular disorder (TMD), is limited. Purpose: To investigate whether occlusal equilibration therapy (ET) and decreasing the (higher) angle of the lateral guidance on the nonworking-side leads to a reduction in chronic TMDs intensity. Methods: It was conducted a randomized, explanatory, single blind with blinded assessment, placebo-controlled trial with strong protection against bias involving patients with chronic TMDs. Participants were randomly assigned to receive equilibration therapy or sham therapy. ET in this study consisted of minimal invasive occlusal remodeling to obtain balanced occlusion with reduction of the steeper angle of lateral mandibular movement with respect to the Frankfort plane. The primary outcome was a change in the pain intensity score (on a 0–10 point scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 the worst possible pain) at month 6. Secondary outcomes include maximum unassisted mouth opening and psychological distress. Results: A total of 77 participants underwent randomization, 39 of whom received ET and 38 sham therapy. The trial was stopped early for efficacy, according to preestablished rules when 67 participants (n = 34, n = 33, respectively) had completed the analysis. At month 6, the mean unadjusted pain intensity score was 2.1 in the ET and 3.6 in the sham therapy group (adjusted mean difference, −1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.5 to −2.6; P = 0.004; ANCOVA model). The mean increase in maximum unassisted mouth opening (main secondary outcome) was significantly higher in the real therapy group (adjusted mean difference 3.1 mm, 95% CI 0.5–5.7, p = 0.02). Conclusion: ET significantly reduced the intensity of facial pain associated with chronic TMDs and increased maximum unassisted mouth opening, as compared with sham therapy, over the course of 6 months. There were no serious adverse events.

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