Stabilizacijska udlaga je najčešće korištena metoda u terapiji temporomanibularnih poremećaja (TMP), no mehanizam njenog djelovanja još nije točno utvrđen. Svrha je ovog sistematskog osvrta iznošenje kritičkog pregleda o uspjehu terapije stabilizacijskom udlagom na temelju danas dostupnih podataka iz znanstvene literature. Pretražena je Medline baza podataka za kontrolirana klinička ispitivanja o učinku udlage u liječenju TMP-a. U rad su uključena dvadeset i četiri istraživanja objavljena od 1995. do danas. Istraživanja su uspoređivala stabilizacijsku udlagu s raznim neinvazivnim metodama liječenja TMP-a. Stabilizacijska udlaga i ostale aktivne terapije (farmakoterapija, fi zikalna terapija, relaksacijske tehnike) pokazale su sličnu učinkovitost u smanjenju temporomandibularne boli. Stoga se može reći da su ove vrste terapija jednako učinkovite u otklanjanju simptoma TMP-a. Stabilizacijska udlaga daje bolje rezultate u liječenju TMP-a od neokludirajuće udlage (tj, placebo udlage). Edukacija pacijenata o poremećaju pokazala se nešto učinkovitijom metodom u liječenju spontane mišićne boli od terapije isključivo stabilizacijskom udlagom. Ovaj pregledni rad pokazao je da stabilizacijska udlaga pomaže većini pacijenata s temporomandibularnim poremećajima. Nema dovoljno podataka o dugoročnoj učinkovitosti stabilizacijske udlage. U budućnosti, postoji potreba za dobro dizajniranim jednostruko ili dvostruko slijepim istraživanjima, s odgovarajućom veličinom uzorka, dugotrajnijim praćenjem ispitanika, te standardiziranim metodama za procjenu učinka liječenja, koje bi potvrdile sadašnju kliničku praksu.Stabilization splint is the treatment of choice for pain control in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients, even though its mechanism of action is still unknown. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a critical overview of the effectiveness of stabilization splint therapy on the basis of currently available literature data. The available Medline database was searched and 24 studies published since the 1995s have been consequently included in this review. The selection criteria were randomized controlled trials and clinical trials comparing splint therapy to either no treatment or another active treatment (physiotherapy, relaxation and drugs). Studies were grouped according to treatment type. Based on the currently best evidence available, it appears that stabilization splint has similar effi cacy in controlling TMD symptoms as other active treatments (physiotherapy, relaxation and drugs). Stabilization splint therapy may be benefi cial in reducing pain at rest and on palpation when compared with non-occluding splint. During a short period, education was slightly more effective than occlusal splint in treating spontaneous muscle pain. These two treatments did not have significantly different effects on pain-free mouth opening and pain during chewing. This review has shown evidence that most TMD patients are helped by incorporation of a stabilization splint. There is not enough data on the long-term effi cacy and effectiveness of this widely used therapeutic tool. In the future, there is a need for well-conducted randomized controlled trials paying attention to adequate sample size, blind outcome assessment, duration of follow up, and using standardized methods for measuring treatment outcomes
