The most popular treatment method for temporomandibular disorder is the splint. If you are a TMJ Treatment York PA patient or have being recommended to get splints, you should know all about the “magic plastic” before going in for the fitting.
The Basics
The occlusal (which is the position of the bite) splint is a detachable dental contraption designed to cover several or all lower or upper teeth.
There are several distinct designs of the occlusal splints, these are:
1. Flat plane splint: Splint designed to cover all upper teeth with a flat surface that helps in the reduction of tooth grinding and relaxing sore jaw muscles. It does not prevent tooth grinding since lower teeth are still in contact with it.
2. Modified Hawley splint: The appliance will fit on the upper jaw making contact with six lower front teeth. Generally worn at night, it helps to ensure that the back teeth do not touch preventing both grinding and clenching.
3. Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension Suppression System (NTI-tss): A device that fits on the upper front teeth, specially designed to prevent tooth grinding and clenching. It fits on only a few teeth placing a great amount of stress on them.
4. Repositioning splint: Splint is primarily used in moving the lower jaw either backward or forward causing permanent changes to the position of the jaw. It is also the most invasive of all splint treatments.
What to Ask
When going for the splint treatment for TMJ, it is vital that you collect as much information as possible from your dentist. Some of the questions that a dentist at Beaudry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery can answer include:
1. What the splint is going to do for your jaw
2. Is the splint meant to reduce pain or reposition the bite or both?
3. What are the other options available?
4. What is the next course of action if the pain gets worse from wearing the splint?
All these and more questions can help your dentist understand your concerns and he or she will do their best to put you at ease.
On agreeing to TMJ Treatment York PA patients will go through a process where the orthodontist will take an impression of the teeth. After fitting, you will be expected to wear the contraption at recommended times as well as go in for follow-appointments to check on the bite and readjustments are made if necessary.
