Evaluation of Mouth Opening Exercise After Pumping of the Temporomandibular Joint in Patients With Nonreducing Disc Displacement

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an additional mouth opening exercise contributes to better outcome in patients with nonreducing disc displacement who underwent pumping of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Patients and Methods

Twenty-three female patients with nonreducing disc displacement of the TMJ underwent pumping of the TMJ and did mouth opening exercise after this treatment (rehabilitation group). Thirty-six female patients with nonreducing disc displacement of the TMJ underwent pumping of the TMJ, but did not do mouth opening exercise (non-rehabilitation group). Patients’ signs and symptoms were examined monthly. Clinical evaluation was conducted according to the criteria presented by the 1995 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Outcomes were compared between the 2 groups at 12-month follow-up. Chi-square tests were used to assess the difference in good resolution rate between the 2 groups. When significant difference was not found, a non-inferiority test (Δ = 0.1) was used. Level of significance was set on P values less than .05.

Results

In both groups, clinical signs and symptoms improved. There was a good resolution rate of 60.9% in the rehabilitation group and 75% in the non-rehabilitation group. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups. The non-inferiority test showed that the good resolution rate of the non-rehabilitation group was significantly equivalent or more to that of the rehabilitation group (P < .05).

Conclusions

Mouth opening exercise did not seem to contribute to better outcomes in patients with nonreducing disc displacement who underwent pumping of the TMJ.