WCPR 2027

Background

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are multifactorial conditions characterized by pain, joint sounds, and impaired mandibular function. Their heterogeneous clinical presentation requires individualized assessment and coordinated management.

Aim

To describe the clinical distribution of TMD diagnoses and evaluate changes in pain and condylar inclination following individualized, transdisciplinary management.

Materials and Methods

A prospective, single-centre clinical study was conducted at the Occlusodontics Unit of Mustapha University Hospital, Algiers, Algeria, between October 2018 and February 2026. The study included 150 patients, representing 300 temporomandibular joints. Diagnoses were classified into muscular disorders, reducible disc displacement, acute and chronic non-reducible disc displacement, and degenerative joint disease, according to the diagnostic criteria reported in the study. Management combined individualized occlusal splints with behavioural advice, pharmacological treatment, psychological support, and functional rehabilitation, as clinically indicated. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while condylar inclination was measured by axiography before treatment and after three months of splint use.

Results

Reducible disc displacement was the most frequent diagnosis (160/300 joints; 53.3%), followed by acute non-reducible disc displacement (96/300; 32.0%). Muscular involvement, chronic non-reducible disc displacement, and degenerative joint disease accounted for 12 (4.0%), 9 (3.0%), and 23 (7.7%) joints, respectively. Reported pain reduction varied by splint type: 80% with neuromuscular reconditioning splints, 97% with anterior repositioning splints, and 100% with anterior-position joint decompression splints. Simple joint decompression failed in the five cases in which it was used. Condylar inclination increased across all diagnostic groups, with reported changes ranging from 2° to 32°; the overall difference was statistically significant (p = 0.017).

Conclusion

This clinical series suggests that individualized, transdisciplinary management of TMD may be associated with substantial pain reduction and changes in condylar kinematics. However, the absence of a control group and the combination of therapeutic interventions prevent attribution of these outcomes to any single treatment. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Temporomandibular disorders; clinical assessment; transdisciplinary care; occlusal splints; pain; axiography.

Professor Zenati Latifa is affiliated with the University of Health Science in Algiers, Algeria. She is associated with the academic and healthcare sector, with an interest in contributing to scientific knowledge and professional collaboration. Professor Zenati Latifa has expressed interest in participating in a Virtual Poster Presentation, providing an opportunity to share research findings and engage with the international scientific community.