The bite plane in temporomandibular joint disorders therapy [L'uso del bite nella terapia della sindrome algico-disfunzionale]

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are due to extra and rarely intra joints alteration. They are characterized by pain, click, functional restrictions and opening mouth reduction. Both muscle and joint damage can be correlate to diurnal and nightly parafunction, voluntary and involuntary, often associated to psychological patient feeling. The symptomatic and painless therapy is often bite plane, a very simple and effective method that obtain to not alter occlusal plane. Hawley bite, anterior jig, anterior bite plane, and Michigan guide, are some of example of bite plane. Their function consist to erase propriocective memory during closing mouth in the ma-ximum intercuspidation. They are very useful when muscular system doesn't work in parafunctional activity. Anterior bite is the most used bite plane therapy during functional disc dislocation, but we have to remember that this kind of bite have some consequence. Furthermore is our opinion that etiology of TMD is multifactorial, and in that cases we have to integrate whit bite plane a pharmacology, physiotherapeutic and psychological treatment.