How effective is splint treatment for jaw joint problems?

Splint therapy, particularly occlusion splints, is widely used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Studies show that soft splints have an effectiveness rate of approximately 71%, while rigid splints are around 8%. However, a systematic review has indicated that there is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of occlusion splints in the treatment of sleep bruxism. Furthermore, a study comparing manual therapy with occlusion splint therapy found that manual therapy was more effective in reducing disability and increasing mouth opening in patients with TMJ disorders, with standardized mean differences of −0.81 and 0.52, respectively.