An Overview of Anterior Repositioning Splint Therapy for Disc Displacement-related Temporomandibular Disorders

Anterior repositioning splint (ARS) therapy is considered one of the most effective therapies for treating disc displacement-related temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), which account for a large proportion of TMD cases. Owing to the wide application of this therapy, the exact mechanism of remission has increasingly drawn attention. Given that practitioners have different views on ARS therapy, its indications are broadened, and operating methods diverged. This review attempts to provide an overview of ARS therapy and helps practitioners establish indications and suitable operating methods. Representative views in the past 10 years were summarised, and conclusions were drawn as follows: The mechanism of ARS therapy is mainly attributed to internal derangement correction, improvement of stress distribution and recently reported joint remodeling. It has an evident effect in the short term, and the most prevalent operating methods are protruding the mandible to the edge-to-edge position and wearing the ARS for 24 hours daily for 3-6 months. However, long-term stability is not optimal, and thus indications should be selected carefully. Notably, most of the clinical studies in this field are case analyses with low-quality evidence. Well-designed RCTs are required to further validate relevant theories.