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World J Stomatol. Feb 20, 2014; 3(1): 10-18
Published online Feb 20, 2014. doi: 10.5321/wjs.v3.i1.10
Published online Feb 20, 2014. doi: 10.5321/wjs.v3.i1.10
Subconscious temporomandibular dysfunction therapy: A new therapeutic approach for temporomandibular disorders
Andreas Florakis, Christos Yapijakis, Department of Neurology, University of Athens Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
Stavroula-Evita Fotinea, Department of Speech and Sound Technology, Institute for Language and Speech Processing, “Athena” Research Center, 11524 Athens, Greece
Christos Yapijakis, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon Hospital, 12461 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Florakis A, Fotinea SE and Yapijakis C designed the research; Florakis A and Fotinea SE performed the research and analyzed the data; Yapijakis C wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Christos Yapijakis, DMD, BS, MS, PhD, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Rimini 1, 12461 Athens, Greece. cyapijakis_ua_gr@yahoo.com
Telephone: +30-210-7289125 Fax: +30-210-9431972
Received: June 30, 2013
Revised: November 11, 2013
Accepted: November 20, 2013
Published online: February 20, 2014
Revised: November 11, 2013
Accepted: November 20, 2013
Published online: February 20, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Despite the spectrum of variable symptoms, the pathology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is fundamentally a problem of excessive involuntary activity of certain stomatognathic muscles. The subconscious temporomandibular dysfunction (STeDy) therapy utilizes a thick awareness splint in order to gradually bring into the patient’s cognitive attention whatever stressful condition causes subconscious muscle activity. The STeDy therapy was applied for one year in 62 patients and successfully eliminated all TMD objective and subjective clinical symptoms as well as TMD-related radiographic findings. A follow-up after an additional year indicated the permanent nature of the cognitive treatment in all patients.