What do systematic reviews say?

Occlusal splint vs Physical therapy (ultrasound, exercise, sensorimotor training, laser, TENS, manual therapy)

Occlusal splint showed no clear difference in depression compared with physical therapy (ultrasound, exercise, sensorimotor training,…; GRADE not reported.

• Occlusal interventions for managing temporomandibular disorders 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term · Disc displacement with reduction (DDwR)
  MD -0.25 [-0.52, 0.02]
  1 study · 60 participants
  GRADE not reported

Occlusal splint vs No treatment or placebo (non-occlusal or transparent-foil placebo splint)

Occlusal splint led to lower depression compared with no treatment or placebo (non-occlusal or transparent-foil placebo…; GRADE not reported.

• Occlusal interventions for managing temporomandibular disorders 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term · Mixed TMD
  MD -2.58 [-4.62, -0.54]
  1 study · 32 participants
  GRADE not reported

Occlusal splint vs Mandibular advancement device

• Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Occlusal splint versus mandibular advancement device, preference (Landry 2006): 12 of 13 participants preferred the occlusal splint over the mandibular advancement device (MAD free); a higher proportion of benefitted…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Occlusal splint vs Palatal splint

• Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Occlusal splint versus palatal splint, preference (Dube 2004): all participants preferred the palatal splint rather than the occlusal splint; 71% felt the occlusal splint offered greater protection for their teeth. At…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Occlusal splint vs Pharmacological interventions (benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, beta blockers, dopamine agents, antidepressants, botulinum toxin A and B, analgesics)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Pharmacological interventions remained a planned comparator, but no included trial compared occlusal splint with any drug; no eligible study.
  0 studies
  No studies found