Three-dimensional assessment of pharyngeal airway hyoid bone and craniocervical changes after stabilization splint treatment in temporomandibular disorder patients.

ABSTRACT: Stabilization splint (SS) therapy is commonly used to treat temporomandibular disorders (TMD), but its three-dimensional (3D) effects on pharyngeal airway (PA) dimensions, hyoid bone (HB) position, and craniocervical (CC) posture remain unclear. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the 3D changes in the PA, with a secondary focus on the HB and CC posture, in adult TMD patients after SS therapy. This retrospective study analyzed 80 adult TMD patients (mean age: 23.88 ± 5.8 years) treated with SS for 6-12 months. Pre- and post-treatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were used to measure 3D changes in PA (naso-, oro-, hypo-, and total pharyngeal spaces), HB position, and CC posture using InVivo and Dolphin software. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests and Wilcoxon sign

SUBMITTER: Chen P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12464249 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature