Objective: To evaluate the effect of occlusal stabilization appliance on cervical dystonia.

Background: Cervical dystonia is a contraction of the neck muscles that causes movement problems, pain and dysfunction in daily functioning. This problem can occur for a variety of reasons, and today it is more common due to computer work or working with mobile phones (any factor that causes prolonged pressure on the neck). Occlusal Stabilization Appliance (OSA) is a dental splint that is said that it is a good method to relax neck and face muscles, reduce symptoms, and even relieve cervical dystonia. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of OSA in reducing patient’s symptoms.

Method: In this cross-sectional study performed on patients with cervical dystonia referred to Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital during 2019, 7 patients were studied. OSA was created for patients and the patients were followed up 24 hours, 3 months, and 6 months after the use, follow-ups were performed using the Dystonia Assessment Questionnaire (TWSTRS) and dystonia scaling and examination for improvement.

Results: Three patients were male and four were female. The mean age was 42 ± 11.66 years. Patients had a mean history of dystonia of 10±8 years. There was no statistically significant difference between total relaxation, pain reduction, increased sleep quality and tremor disappearance between 24 hours and 3 months after prosthesis, but there was a statistically significant difference in increased comfort 24 hours and 3 months after prosthesis (P-value = 0.053). Using OSA has been shown to improve Rotation, Duration, and Maintain head max time.

Conclusion: The use of OSA in the short term improves pain, increases the quality of sleep, relaxation, and elimination of tremors, but in the long term, does not affect reducing these parameters.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/occlusal-stabilization-appliance-on-treatment-of-cervical-dystonia/