Dental Splints
Worn over your top or bottom teeth, a custom-fitted dental splint prevents damage from grinding or clenching while you sleep.
Even if you’re not aware of grinding your teeth at night, you may be extremely aware of the consequences: regular headaches in the morning, sore jaw and facial muscles and, if left unchecked, a gradual loss of tooth structure which could lead to cracking. The simplest solution is to wear a dental splint at night, fitted to sit over either your top or bottom set of teeth. Not only do you protect your teeth and reduce the consequences, you may find you also get a better night’s sleep.
4 steps to a comfortable dental splint
The initial consultation
We’ll examine your teeth for evidence of grinding and decide whether a top or bottom dental splint is appropriate.
Taking an impression
At the same appointment, we take an impression of your teeth or perform a digital scan if necessary.
Fabricating the splint
We use the impressions and scans to design your splint using specialised software and then print it out with our 3D printer. For certain types of splints, we also work with a specialised boutique dental laboratory – The Spot Dental Lab in Croydon – to ensure high quality and a perfect fit.
Trying the splint
At your next appointment, we’ll show you how to put in and remove the splint and check that the fit is comfortable and tight. From consultation to delivery, the entire process can take just a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions.
To be effective, a dental splint needs to fit tightly over your teeth to avoid moving around. While the sensation of wearing a splint may be unusual at first, patients usually become used to wearing a splint very quickly.
There are plenty of dental guards on the market that advertise themselves as cheaper options to protect your teeth from grinding. However, while some of these products suggest you can customise the fit, you’re extremely unlikely to achieve the same level of fit as you would with a professionally fabricated splint.
Not only is a poor fit less likely to be effective in protecting your teeth, you may find it also is less comfortable to wear, impacting the quality of your sleep.
Not only is a poor fit less likely to be effective in protecting your teeth, you may find it also is less comfortable to wear, impacting the quality of your sleep.
While the splint might protect your teeth from the damage caused by grinding, in extreme cases, constant clenching and pressure may still lead to headaches and jaw pain. If this occurs, we may need to prescribe muscle relaxant medication to help you relax your jaw at night.