ReviewCureus2026
Evolution and Clinical Impact of Prosthodontic Appliances: A Narrative Review of Splints, Stents, and Oral Appliances.
Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Splints, stents, and oral appliances play an important supportive role in modern prosthodontic practice, contributing to diagnosis, treatment stabilization, surgical accuracy, and functional rehabilitation. Over time, these appliances have evolved from largely empirical devices into precision-based therapeutic tools guided by biomechanical principles and digital technologies. Recent developments in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), three-dimensional printing, and evidence-based appliance therapy have improved their accuracy, consistency, and clinical predictability. Occlusal splints continue to be widely used as conservative, reversible treatment options for temporomandibular disorders and bruxism. Digital fabrication techniques have demonstrated improved fit and reproducibility when compared with conventional fabrication methods. Surgical and radiotherapeutic stents have expanded the role of prosthodontists in interdisciplinary implant and oncologic rehabilitation by improving procedural precision and protecting surrounding tissues. In addition, oral appliance therapy has gained increasing acceptance in the management of obstructive sleep apnea, particularly in patients who are intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Despite their widespread use, considerable variation remains in appliance design, material selection, and clinical protocols, which may influence treatment outcomes. Recent literature highlights the importance of individualized appliance therapy, digital workflow integration, and a deeper understanding of neuromuscular and biomechanical mechanisms. This narrative review summarizes the current evidence on the evolution, mechanisms of action, clinical applications, and technological advancements of prosthodontic appliances, with particular emphasis on splints, stents, oral appliance therapy, and digital technologies. It aims to provide clinicians and postgraduate students with a comprehensive overview of the expanding role of these appliances in contemporary prosthodontic practice.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.