"Female patients who applied to the 'Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) Clinic' at the Department of Prosthodontics, Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry, with complaints of muscle pain in the maxillofacial region and who are diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome based on the results of their examination and the Temporomandibular Disorders Diagnostic Criteria (TMD-DC) form they completed, will be included in the study. Occlusal splint therapy will be initiated for these patients. Before starting occlusal splint therapy, ultrasound images will be taken from the patients. Subsequently, the patients will undergo routine occlusal splint therapy without any intervention in their 12-week treatment process. At the end of the 12-week treatment protocol, during the final control session, patients will fill the TMD-DC form again, and the two forms will be compared to evaluate changes in their clinical symptoms and pain. Additionally, a second ultrasound imaging will be taken during the same session. In this imaging, the thickness and blood flow of the masseter and temporal muscles will be examined, and comparisons will be made with the pre-treatment ultrasound. In this way, the effects of occlusal splints on muscle morphology and blood flow will be evaluated."
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"Changes observed after treatment in the temporal and masseter muscles, as well as in the blood flow of their associated arteries."
Timeframe: 12 weeks