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The purpose of this investigation was to study the prevalence of bruxism and the patterns of bruxofacet on the occlusal splints in TMD patients, as well as to evaluate the amount of subjective and objective symptoms reduction in orofacial region according to the pattern of bruxofacet when patients have occlusal splints placed. Twenty-three patients (20 women and 3 men , 16 to 54 years of age) with signs and symptoms of TMD were included in this study. The patients were re-examined in 1, 3, 6, 10 weeks after delivery of the splint. A full-arch occlusal splint made of self-cured acrylic resin was given to each patient to be worn during sleep. In 91 % of the patients (21 patients), active shiny facets or scratches caused by nocturnal bruxism appeared on the occlusal surface of the splints in 10 weeks. In 48% of the 21 patients, these facets were created by bilateral mandibular clenching excursions, in 35 %, by small lateral movements, and in 13 % by unilateral excursions. Subjective pain and Craniomandibular Index(CMI) in patients were decreased in 10 weeks (P<0.001), but initiative symptom and symptom reduction did not differ between the small lateral and bilateral bruxofacet groups.
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