Comparative Outcomes of Arthrocentesis with and without Stabilization Splints in Patients with Disc Displacement without Reduction

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to compare the longterm effectiveness of arthrocentesis alone versus arthrocentesis combined with stabilization splint (SS) therapy in patients diagnosed with disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR). Materials and Methods: Medical records of 49 patients (57 TMJs) treated between 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received arthrocentesis only (AO, n=26) and those who received arthrocentesis combined with a stabilization splint (A+SS, n=23). Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (pVAS), and maximum interincisal opening (MIO) was measured at baseline (T0), 1 month (T1), and 12 months (T2) post-treatment. Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were performed using appropriate statistical tests based on data distribution. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pVAS and MIO over time (p