A novel digital workflow to fabricate anterior repositioning splint with fully masticatory function based on virtual dental patient for anterior disc displacement with reduction: a case report.

Abstract

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) refer to a range of conditions caused by anatomical and functional abnormalities of the temporomandibular joints. Anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) is one of the most common TMDs, characterized by symptoms such as jaw pain and audible clicking during jaw movements.

Case report: A 38-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in April 2023 with a chief complaint of joint snapping and jaw pain persisting for nearly a decade. After a comprehensive examination, she was diagnosed with ADDwR of bilateral temporomandibular joints. The patient then underwent functional anterior repositioning splint (FARS) therapy, which continued until July 2023, resulting in complete symptom remission. She is currently undergoing additional orthodontic treatment.

Conclusion: Anterior repositioning splint (ARS) therapy used to be considered one of the most effective therapies for ADDwR. However, concerns have emerged regarding its dependence on clinicians' subjective experience, potential inaccuracies in ARS design, and impact on patients' masticatory function. This case has improved the traditional ARS therapy with the establishment of a novel digital workflow to fabricate ARS with a fully masticatory function based on the virtual dental patient (VDP) for ADDwR. The FARS workflow ensured predictability and visualization of treatment effect through digital simulation, enhanced the personalization and precision of FARS design via VDP, and preserved the patient's masticatory function through the tailored design of occlusal surface morphology.