Dr. Adams' Alabama Headache Blog

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a passive jaw motion device. (PJMD) on patients with restricted opening prior to being considered for surgery. Twenty patients with interincisal opening (IIO) of 35mm or less were selected in order of appearance to the Gelb Craniomandibular/Orofacial Pain Center. IIO, right lateral (RL) and left lateral (LL) excursions and protrusion (PR) were measured. Patients were treated with appliance therapy for 4 weeks. Half of patients, randomly chosen, were simultaneously treated with PJMD. Measurements were then repeated. A 2-factor, factorial ANOVA was performed for each mandibular motion. For IIO there was a significant main effect for groups, sequence as well as significant group interaction as well as significant group by sequence interaction. PJMD pre(27.7 mm) increased significantly to 38.3 mm while control did not change (25.4 mm pre, 27.1 mm post). For RL, there was a significant main effect for groups and sequence as well as a significant group by sequence interaction. The PJMD mean pre (7.6) was no different from control(6.1) but it increased significantly to 10.3 mm, while the control mean remained stable (6.4 mm) For LL and PR there were significant main effects fro group and sequence but not for group by sequence interaction. This study is preliminary and suggests that the PJMD is effective in increasing maximum incisal opening and excursion to the right. Although LL and PR tended in the same direction, they did not attain significance. This study is ongoing and will ultimately include 50 patients. This study was supported by the Therabite Corporation.