Bite Splint
Collectively all
bite plates or splints all do the same thing, that is, provide
an acrylic platform to bite against.
Bite plates are a
very effective to relieve TMD symptoms. No one bite
plate design has been shown to b consistently more effective
than any other. **.
Some bite plate
designed to move the mandible to a new position.
Unintended problems associated with these appliances include
inadvertent movement of teeth.
Partial coverage appliances
have the potential to depress teeth under the appliance and
cause super-eruption of the teeth that are not covered.
Soft appliances can
be deformed by clenching and may unintentionally move teeth
and open interproximal contacts. Considering all these
facts, the simplest design is the most desirable. **
The design that
provides the least chances of producing and unexpected change in
the occlusion or bite is a hard appliance covering all the
teeth in the arch, utilizing a flat biting surface adjusted to
provide even contact in habitual closure.
Upper bite plates is what our office uses because they have an
advantage over lower jaw appliances because biting contact can
be distributed over the entire surface of the appliance.
Lower jaw appliances can not adequately include contact with
the maxillary central incisors without
the risk of pushing these teeth labially. However
if you have missing teeth, then the arch with most missing
teeth needs to be covered.
In general it
should NOT be worn 24 hours a day. It is to be worn
part-time for most people night time is best.
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Your dentist needs to educated you on self
care techniques and:
