BACKGROUND: Among the adult socially active population, one of the most common pathologies of the maxillary system is musculoskeletal dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). One of the modern methods of correction and treatment of TMJ dysfunction is splint therapy, which involves the use of splints and permits to consistently and selectively act on a particular level of disorders: occlusive, muscular, articular. This ultimately forms a new myostatic reflex of holding the jaw, builds physiological biomechanics and neuromuscular activity of the speech apparatus and the stomatognathic system as a whole. AIM: To prove the positive effectiveness of the use of splint therapy from the point of view of physiological concepts in optimizing the neuro- and myofunctional state of the stomatognathic system with an analysis of the effectiveness of the mode of using occlusal splints in patients with TMJ dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The treatment was carried out in 34 patients with diagnosed TMJ dysfunction at the age from 17 to 40 years. For the treatment of patients, a relaxing therapeutic and diagnostic articular splint was used. The patients were divided into 2 groups of 17 people each: for the first group of patients, a round-the-clock mode of wearing a splint was set, for the second group, a 16-hour mode was set. The total observation period was 6 months. The criteria for achieving therapeutic goals were considered: absence/reduction of pain in the TMJ and orofacial pain, absence of pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles and in the TMJ, stable position of the lower jaw in the central occlusion, stability and uniformity of movements of the lower jaw at various functional positions, comfort when chewing and at rest, absence/reduction of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles. RESULTS: The treatment results were evaluated 3 and 6 months after the primary stabilization of the mandible position. At the same time, among the patients of the first group, primary stabilization was achieved on average at the third visit (after 1.5 months from the start of splint therapy), in the second group of patients only at the fourth or fifth visit (after 2–2.5 months). Three months later, all patients of the first group and 8 patients from the second group noted a decrease in pain and orofacial pain, as well as the absence of pain on palpation of muscles and TMJ. Chewing discomfort was observed in 4 patients from the first group and 7 from the second. According to the results after 6 months, all patients were satisfied according to all criteria, all established objective criteria for treatment goals were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: With the correct selection of patients with symptoms indicative of muscle or occlusive dysfunction, splint therapy shows itself as an effective method that allows, with a full understanding of the biomechanics and functional physiology of the occlusal-muscular-articular complex, to effectively correct the neuromuscular state of the stomatognathic system towards it full balance.

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The aesthetic problems associated with defects in appearance and wearing orthodontic appliances in the malocclusion, the negative impact on the psyche of the patient in all age groups. Malocclusion disturb the aesthetic appearance of the patient, causing functional disorders and pathological changes. The problem ofprevention and treatment ofdentoalveolar anomalies has not only medical, but also a social value. Many patients understand the needfor timely treatment to the dentist. Beautiful and straight teeth have become part of modern life, his well-being, health and social status. Any abnormalities always affect the psyche. Patients with dental system pathology suffer from changes in appearance, violations of phonetics, chewing function and this formed the difficulties in communication. Mental and emotional state plays an important role in human life, which affects the predictions of success and the development of treatments. Do not unimportant role in the treatment plays a dentist, his mood affects the man, and he has concluded on the basis of suggestion or self-hypnosis. The mood doctor can specifically change the whole picture of the disease, and set up a patient in a positive way. Therefore, the physician should become familiar with the individual characteristics of the patient and adjust it to the correct understanding of the disease that would yield results.

Background. Nowadays, the number of orthodontic care requests has increased significantly. The technical capabilities of orthodontics have improved exponentially with technological progress. The necessary care can now be provided at almost any age, and the need for aesthetic results has increased, as motivated by the mass media. As a result, patients have high demands to orthodontists. New technologies, such as cortical support, can solve dental abnormalities that previously could only be cured by surgery. However, maintaining high-quality results remains a challenge. Materials and methods. The objective parameters of orthodontic treatment were analyzed and compared with the subjective assessment of patients. Conclusion. The patients motivation, the desire to cooperate with the doctor, and a clear understanding of the treatment goals enable to obtain and retain high-quality results for a sufficiently long period of time.