Mouth Guards and Splints
When certain terms are used interchangeably, it does not necessarily mean that they mean the same, such as the case with mouth guards and splints. Therefore it is imperative to know the difference between the two. Mouth guards are designed to protect your teeth from harmful blows while the splints are used to prevent unwanted teeth grinding or clenching.
Mouth Splints: It is a removable dental appliance designed to fit the biting surfaces of upper or lower teeth in order to reduce the grinding pressure transmitted on the teeth. It is used for the following purposes:
Temporomandibular joint Disorders: Splint therapy is one of the main options followed to provide relief from temporomandibular joint disorders. Occlusal splint therapy help in maintaining balance between neuromuscular system and the masticatory system. These splints protect TMJ discs from dysfunctional forces which lead to permanent displacements and damage, thereby helping to create a balanced occlusion. Occluding and non-occluding are the two main types of splinting. Occluding splints, also called stabilization splints which aid in improving the alignment between upper and lower teeth. Non-occluding splints on the other hand open the jaw, and prevent clenching of teeth.
Bruxism: Bruxism is the habit of constantly grinding or clenching of the teeth. In bruxism, splint is mostly used during the night when the chances of undetected teeth grinding are high. It prevents teeth clenching and provides relief from the associated jaw pain, wear of teeth and soreness.
Sleep Apnea: Mandibular advancement splints work wonders in treating sleep apnea. They are designed to slightly push the lower jaw forward in order to keep airway open during the sleep.
Full mouth Rehabilitation: The Kois Deprogramming splint prevents interlocking of the teeth and therefore allows the patient’s lower jaw to gradually relax and settle into an ideal position with relation to the teeth. The Kois Deprogramming splint is a removable, plastic appliance that covers the hard palate and creates a single point of contact between the lower central incisor and the anterior bite plane. Used for evaluating the stability of a patient’s bite, the Kois Deprogramming splint is used to locate a patient’s optimal jaw position in full mouth rehabilitation.
Mouth Guards: Mouth guards are the custom fitted dental appliances designed for mouth, in order to protect teeth, gums and lips. It prevents injury during contact sports and exercises.
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