The Effectiveness of Occlusal Splint Therapy vs Physiotherapy in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Prospective Comparative Study

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the therapeutic outcomes of occlusal splint therapy versus physiotherapy in patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) at the <i>Entre de Consultations et de Traitements Dentaires</i> (Dental Consultation and Treatment Center), Casablanca, Morocco. Methods This prospective longitudinal study included 70 patients diagnosed with TMD over an eight-month period. Participants were treated with either occlusal splints (62.8%) or physiotherapy (37.2%), based on clinical indication and patient preference. Diagnoses were confirmed using clinical criteria, and outcomes were assessed based on symptom resolution, treatment duration, and patient-reported improvement. Statistical analyses included both univariate and bivariate methods, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results The sample exhibited a strong female predominance (82.9%) and a mean age of 35.6 ± 14.9 years. The most common symptoms were joint noises (70%), pain (68.6%), and limited mandibular mobility (65.7%). Diagnoses included disc displacement with reduction (52.9%) and without reduction (47.1%). Overall, 84.3% of patients achieved recovery. A significantly higher recovery rate was observed in the splint group (95.5%) compared to the physiotherapy group (65.4%) (p = 0.001). While physiotherapy yielded faster early improvements, splint therapy required fewer clinical visits and offered superior long-term outcomes. No significant differences were found based on age, sex, or type of disc displacement. Conclusion Occlusal splint therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness than physiotherapy in managing TMD, achieving significantly higher long-term recovery rates. Nevertheless, physiotherapy represents a valuable and rapid-acting alternative, particularly in early intervention or as part of a combined therapeutic approach. Considering the limitations of this study, such as sample size and follow-up duration, future high-quality, long-term randomized controlled trials are warranted to refine and optimize evidence-based TMD management strategies.