ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction numerically, pain and non-assisted maximal mouth opening after the use of indirect anterior repositioning splint using a protrusive record versus direct anterior repositioning splint in management of anterior disc displacement with reduction of the temporomandibular joint.
Materials and methods: Twenty patients suffering disc displacement with reduction were included in the study. Each patient is asked to use the selected splint for 6 hours daily. Patient satisfaction with splint fabrication was measured by visual analog scale, pain was also measured by visual analog scale and non-assisted maximal mouth opening in mm using a caliper. Study intervals were pre-treatment, 1 and 6 months post-treatment.

Results: Patient satisfaction with splint fabrication was better for group I 7.7± 0.95 compared to group II 3.3 ± 1.49 and there was statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p value <0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in pain neither through all study intervals nor in pain change between study intervals. Also, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in maximal mouth opening in mm neither through all study intervals nor in the change between study intervals.
Conclusions: Fabrication of indirect anterior repositioning splint using a protrusive record is a more acceptable procedure to patients suffering disc displacement with reduction in comparison to direct anterior repositioning splint. Pain and maximal mouth opening are not significantly different when using either indirect or direct splint.