Dental Splints in Crows Nest

At MySolutions Dental Clinic, we pride ourselves on providing the best dental care in Crows Nest. We provide various oral health services, including custom dental splints. We’re committed to ensuring our patients understand the importance and benefits of dental splints and how they can enhance oral health and overall well-being.

What Is A Dental Splint?

A dental splint is a custom-made oral appliance designed to fit comfortably over your teeth. Crafted from premium acrylic, these appliances treat conditions like bruxism (teeth grinding), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, jaw injuries and can also be used to stabilise loose teeth. They also support teeth post-dental implant or orthodontic treatment.

Types Of Dental Splints

A dental splint procedure can benefit patients experiencing grinding, clenching, clicking jaws, muscle pain, or headaches. Over the years, Dr Lindsay Chen (Dentist), our expert dentist in dental splints, has gained considerable skill in making different dental splints to help patients and treat their conditions, improving their daily lives. The different splint types she’s made include:

• Occlusal — Occlusal dental splints are used to manage bruxism and TMJ disorders. They help by redistributing the bite force evenly, reducing stress on the jaw joints and muscles, preventing further damage to the teeth and enhancing daily life quality.
• Anterior — Anterior dental splints are designed to fit over the front teeth. They are particularly effective for patients who grind their teeth at night, providing a barrier that prevents teeth from coming into contact with each other.
• Michigan — Michigan dental splints are a type of occlusal splint, named after the University of Michigan, where they were developed. These splints are typically used for patients with severe TMJ disorders, offering significant relief from jaw pain and discomfort.
• Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) — MAS are used primarily to treat obstructive sleep apnoea. They work by advancing the lower jaw forward, keeping the airway open during sleep, and reducing the occurrence of apnoeas.

For jaw issues caused by teeth, we design a dental splint guiding the lower jaw to the correct bite (CR bite), relieving pain and protecting against grinding.

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What To Expect From A Dental Splint Procedure

At MySolutions Dental Clinic, the dental splint procedure is straightforward and patient-centred, including the following:

1. Oral examination

Dr Chen will assess your dental needs during your oral examination at our practice. We will also arrange for you to have a separate comprehensive TMJ examination that may take an hour.

During the oral exam, we will assess your soft tissue, teeth, jaws, and muscles. We’ll gather your TMJ history and ask about any accidents, orthodontic treatments, tooth position changes, or feelings of tension. We may also take OPG X-rays or CBCT, examine your jaw, muscles, and teeth, and check for sleep problems or airway obstruction.

If Dr Chen determines that you can benefit from a dental splint, she will choose the suitable type and inform you that it’s part of the treatment. She will use our 3D scanner to digitally capture your teeth and bite relationship. This advanced method is more comfortable than traditional impressions and provides a precise copy of your teeth and bite, enabling us to create a custom-fit splint just for you.

You may need orthodontics or clear aligners to correct bites and teeth, possibly requiring restorations in a multidisciplinary dental treatment. Dr Chen can provide all such services. “It’s important to understand that a splint can be just a part of treatment; it is not the final treatment,” she said.

If our expert dental splint dentist, Dr Chen, determines you have sleep or airway issues, she will refer you to a sleep specialist. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnoea, we can craft an appliance (MAS) for improved sleep quality.

When a dental splint is advised as the correct course of treatment, we create a mouth mould for a perfect fit to make your appliance. We can complete the process in one visit, with a return visit for fitting.

2. Fitting appointment

Once the dental splint is ready, we will schedule a fitting appointment. Our dentists will ensure that the splint fits perfectly and comfortably during this visit. We will provide detailed instructions on how to use the splint, when to wear it and how to care for it to ensure its longevity and effectiveness.

3. Follow-up appointments

Regular follow-up appointments may be scheduled to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments. Our goal is to provide you with a solution that enhances your dental health and improves your quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a splint comfortable to wear?

How long do I need to wear it?

Can I eat and drink with the appliance in my mouth?

Does insurance cover it?

Dental Splints Crows Nest NSW | (02) 9055 0355