EFFICACY OF TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION AND SOFT SPLINT THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISC DISPLACEMENT WITH REDUCTION – A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background: The variability in treatment approaches for temporomandibular disc displacement with reduction underscores the pressing need for this study. With disparate clinical practices, there is a critical gap in establishing the most effective treatment. Addressing this gap will optimize patient care and minimize the risk of suboptimal treatment outcomes. Aims: The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and splint therapy in managing temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction by evaluating pain intensity, mouth opening, and masticatory muscle tenderness post-treatment. Settings and Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either TENS therapy or splint therapy. Methods and Material: Baseline assessments of pain intensity, maximum mouth opening, and masticatory muscle tenderness were recorded preoperatively. Treatment was administered over four weeks, with weekly evaluations to monitor efficacy. Statistical analysis used: Inter-group analysis was done using independent t-tests, and intra-group analysis was done using ANOVA tests to evaluate the efficacy of each treatment. Results: In the TENS group, there were notable reductions in pain intensity and masticatory muscle tenderness, accompanied by an improvement in mouth opening over the four weeks. Conversely, the splint therapy group showed minimal changes in these parameters. Conclusions: TENS therapy shows promise as an effective treatment modality for temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction. The significant improvements observed in pain intensity, muscle tenderness, and mouth opening highlight TENS therapy\\\'s potential to alleviate symptoms of DDWR.