Occlusal splint resins

: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Occlusal Splints are jaw interposition devices commonly used in the therapeutic approach of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). With the increasing adoption and advancement of manufacturing technologies, the main aim of this review is to determine the clinical performance of occlusal splints obtained by different processing techniques (heat-curing vs CAD/CAM) with a clinical focus on resins’ physical and mechanical properties. Materials and Methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the research protocol was registered in PROSPERO. The research question was based on the PICO model, and the bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases, with no restrictions on the date of publication or language, until January 2025. The articles were selected by two independent researchers, and the agreement was determined using Cohen's Kappa test. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Data regarding the test specimens were collected and analyzed, including format, dimensions, preparation methods, experimental protocols and evaluated properties. Results: Of the 285 articles initially identified, only 9 fully met the predefined inclusion criteria. The evaluation of the included studies demonstrated an almostperfect agreement between reviewers and a low risk of bias. Milling resins showed superior clinical performance in various physical and mechanical properties, such as hardness, flexural strength, and surface roughness, revealing advantages compared to printed and conventional resins. Conclusions: Milling resins demonstrate superior performance compared to conventional and printed resins, representing a promising alternative. However, further clinical studies are needed to validate the evidence regarding their longterm performance.

Date of Award	18 Jul 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Patrícia Fonseca (Supervisor) & Vanessa Maria Barroso dos Santos Silva (Co-Supervisor)