{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T20:17:12Z","timestamp":1791836232245,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,11]],"date-time":"2025-07-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752192000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Medical Infrared Thermography (MIT) is a safe, non-invasive technique for assessing temperature changes on the skin\u2019s surface that may reflect pathological processes in the underlying tissues. In temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), which are often associated with reduced mobility and muscle overactivity, tissue metabolism and blood flow may be diminished, resulting in localized hypothermia. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate muscle tone in the masseter, suprahyoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscles following the application of two types of occlusal splints, a Michigan splint and a double repositioning splint, based on temperature changes recorded using a Fluke Ti401 PRO thermal imaging camera. Materials and Methods: Sixty dental students diagnosed with TMDs were enrolled in this study. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group M received a Michigan splint, while group D was treated with a double repositioning splint. Results: The type of occlusal splint influenced both temperature distribution and muscle tone. In the double repositioning splint group, temperature decreased by approximately 0.8 \u00b0C between T1 and T3, whereas in the Michigan splint group, temperature increased by approximately 0.7 \u00b0C over the same period. Conclusions: Occlusal splint design has a measurable impact on temperature distribution and muscle activity. The double repositioning splint appears to be more effective in promoting short-term muscle relaxation and may provide relief for patients experiencing muscular or myofascial TMD symptoms.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj13070313","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,11]],"date-time":"2025-07-11T12:46:33Z","timestamp":1752237993000},"page":"313","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["A Thermal Imaging Camera as a Diagnostic Tool to Study the Effects of Occlusal Splints on the Elimination of Masticatory Muscle Tension"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Danuta","family":"Lietz-Kijak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Propaedeutic, Physical Diagnostics and Dental Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8151-1392","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adam Andrzej","family":"Garstka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Propaedeutic, Physical Diagnostics and Dental Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lidia","family":"Szczucka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Propaedeutic, Physical Diagnostics and Dental Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0439-4863","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roman","family":"Ardan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Economics, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-343 Koszalin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Monika","family":"Brz\u00f3zka-Garstka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, 61-871 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piotr","family":"Skomro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Propaedeutic, Physical Diagnostics and Dental Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Camillo","family":"D\u2019Arcangelo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Reparto di Odontoiatria Restaurativa e Endodonzia, Universit\u00e0 Degli Studi \u201cG. D\u2019Annunzio\u201d, 66100 Chieti, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McCafferty, D.J., Koprowski, R., Herborn, K., Tattersall, G.J., Jerem, P., and Nord, A. (2021). Editorial: Advances in thermal imaging. J. Therm. Biol., 102.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtherbio.2021.103109"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cbpa.2016.02.022","article-title":"Infrared thermography: A non-invasive window into thermal physiology","volume":"202","author":"Tattersall","year":"2016","journal-title":"Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A Mol. Integr. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"\u0160vantner, M., Lang, V., Sk\u00e1la, J., Kohlsch\u00fctter, T., Honner, M., Muzika, L., and Kosov\u00e1, E. (2022). 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