Occlusal splints

Occlusal splints are a traditional method for treating issues in the masticatory system. An occlusal splint can reduce various symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders, such as pain, ache and tooth wear by, for example, preventing you from grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. These splints are designed to reduce pain and to restore normal and balanced occlusal function. Professionals often also teach the customer to exercise their jaw muscles when starting the use of occlusal splints.

In temporomandibular joint disorders, the dentist assesses the need for a splint and the type of the required splint according to each customer’s physiology. The occlusal splint is carefully crafted to meet each patient’s individual requirements, helps relax the muscles that move your jaw and prevents tooth wear when grinding your teeth, for example. The splint is usually made of plastic which is easy to shape into a disk that can be attached to the upper or lower teeth.

Use and care of occlusal splints

Occlusal splints are usually worn at night. Using the splint may feel tricky at first, but people usually get used to it quite quickly. In addition to quick adaptation, the splint’s benefits are also often quickly discovered. Even if you lose some sleep when trying to get used to the splint, the quality of your sleep may soon be improved as your masticatory muscles relax.

Remember to take care of your splint to ensure it will not damage your teeth. The occlusal splint is cleaned with a toothbrush and regular detergent each day after use. Toothpaste is not recommended for cleaning the splint. We also recommend disinfecting your occlusal splint every now and then. An occlusal splint usually comes with a container suited for storing it.