Table 4.
Type of self-care instruction, splints and medications recommended by dentists for treating pain related to TMDs
| Usually or Always N (%) |
Sometimes or Half of time N (%) |
Never N (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of splint | |||
| Hard custom mouthguard (n=85) | 34 (40.0) | 40 (47.1) | 11 (12.9) |
| Soft custom mouthguard (n=83) | 16 (19.3) | 35 (42.2) | 32 (38.6) |
| Anterior repositioning splint (n=79) | 3 (3.8) | 9 (11.4) | 67 (84.8) |
| Soft over-the-counter mouthguard (n=78) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (1.3) | 76 (97.4) |
| Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition appliance (NTI)(n=75) | 0 (0) | 2 (2.7) | 73 (97.3) |
| Other (n=28) | 2 (7.1) | 1 (3.6) | 25 (89.3) |
|
| |||
| Type of medication | |||
| Over the counter (OTC) | |||
| Acetaminophen (n=83) | 1 (1.2) | 6 (7.2) | 76 (91.6) |
| Aspirin (n=83) | 0 (0) | 3 (3.6) | 80 (96.4) |
| Ibuprofen (n=83) | 0 (0) | 4 (4.8) | 79 (95.2) |
| Naproxen (n=83) | 0 (0) | 1 (1.2) | 82 (98.8) |
| Loxoprofen Sodium (n=82) | 0 (0) | 6 (7.3) | 76 (92.7) |
| Prescription | |||
| Loxoprofen sodium (n=87) | 33 (37.9) | 39 (44.8) | 15 (17.2) |
| Diclofenac sodium (n=82) | 7 (8.5) | 30 (36.6) | 45 (54.9) |
| Ibuprofen (n=83) | 6 (7.2) | 6 (7.2) | 71 (85.5) |
| Muscle relaxants (n=84) | 4 (4.8) | 8 (9.5) | 72 (85.7) |
| Indomethacin (n=83) | 1 (1.2) | 6 (7.2) | 76 (91.6) |
| Amfenac sodium (n=84) | 1 (1.2) | 5 (6.0) | 78 (92.9) |
| Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants (n=82) | 0 (0) | 2 (2.4) | 80 (97.6) |
| Naproxen (n=83) | 0 (0) | 4 (4.8) | 79 (95.2) |
| Aspirin (n=84) | 0 (0) | 9 (10.7) | 75 (89.3) |
| Tramadol (n=83) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 83 (100) |
| Other opioids (n=83) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 83 (100) |
|
| |||
| Type of self-care instruction | |||
| Avoid clenching or grinding teeth (n=88) | 66 (75.0) | 20 (22.7) | 2 (2.3) |
| Relax your jaw (muscles) (n=88) | 57 (64.8) | 20 (22.7) | 11 (12.5) |
| Identify pain triggers (n=87) | 52 (59.8) | 27 (31.0) | 8 (9.2) |
| Eat a pain-free diet (n=88) | 44 (50.0) | 37 (42.0) | 7 (8.0) |
| Get a good night’s sleep (n=88) | 32 (36.4) | 34 (38.6) | 22 (25.0) |
| Eat a soft diet (n=88) | 31 (35.2) | 46 (52.3) | 11 (12.5) |
| Keep your teeth apart (n=87) | 29 (33.3) | 25 (28.7) | 33 (37.9) |
| Avoid biting objects (for example, pens)(n=88) | 29 (33.0) | 36 (40.9) | 23 (26.1) |
| Avoid chewing gum (n=88) | 26 (29.5) | 40 (45.5) | 22 (25.0) |
| Chew food on both sides of your back teeth at the same time (n=87) | 24 (27.6) | 39 (44.8) | 24 (27.6) |
| Apply heat (n=87) | 16 (18.4) | 41 (47.1) | 30 (34.5) |
| Avoid pushing your tongue against your teeth (n=87) | 15 (17.2) | 29 (33.3) | 43 (49.4) |
| Avoid biting on your fingernails (n=88) | 19 (21.6) | 32 (36.4) | 37 (42.0) |
| Avoid biting tongue/lip/cheek (n=88) | 14 (15.9) | 38 (43.2) | 36 (40.9) |
| Place tongue gently on your palate (n=87) | 7 (8.0) | 28 (32.2) | 52 (59.8) |
| Apply ice (n=85) | 3 (3.5) | 34 (40.0) | 48 (56.5) |
| Avoid caffeine (n=88) | 0 (0) | 16 (18.2) | 72 (81.8) |