Method: The research group consisted of 49 patients (36 getting occlusal splints and 13 as control group) between 18 and 75 years old, both genders, diagnosed as having temporomandibular joint disorder by questionnaire of research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorder and magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joints. The research was performed in a randomized, controlled, prospective clinical study with intervention. Postural equilibrium was evaluated by means of a force plate. In the randomization, the splinted group was under an occlusal-stability criterion as well as advised under therapeutic exercises while the control group got only orientation related to therapeutic exercises. After 12 weeks, the groups were re-evaluated. The results were analyzed by categorical data using absolute and relative frequencies as well as continuous data using average, median, standard deviation, 25 and 75 percentiles, besides minimum and maximum values; comparison between the times by non-parametric Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and ANOVA tests with a threshold of significance of 0.05.
Result: The 36 occlusal splint patients presented a significant increase in anteroposterior speed of the center of pressure either with eyes opened or closed.
Conclusion: The use of occlusal splint affected the postural balance.