Splint: When used in Relationship to the Jaw Muscles
A mouthguard is a protective device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums. A mouthguard is most often used to prevent injury in contact sports, as a treatment for bruxism or TMD, or as part of certain dental procedures, such as tooth bleaching. Depending on application, it may also be called a mouth protector, mouth piece, gumshield, gumguard, nightguard, occlusal splint, bite splint, or bite plane.
What is an Oral Splint?
A mandibular splint, oral splint, or a mandibular advancement splint is generally a prescription custom-made medical device worn in the mouth used to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), snoring, and TMJ disorders. View the QuickSplint option.
Mandibular advancement splints are commonly used in the United States and are beginning to be used more in other countries as well. According to the current American Academy of Sleep Medicine treatment guidelines, oral appliances are useful for patients with snoring or minor to moderate sleep apnea, or as an alternative to CPAP in non compliant patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea. A clear diagnosis and pain treatment plan can offer a good therapy choice as they are non-invasive, easily reversible, quiet, and generally well tolerated by patients. The focus of an oral splint is to provide improvement in jaw pain, permitting free jaw movement (permitting yawning, speaking, and drinking), and allowing the individual to breathe normally through their mouth.
Adherence to oral appliance protocols for JAMSS is strongly advised to avoid the effects of the device on teeth, possible lack of efficacy, and discomfort. When an oral splint placement is managed under the care of an orofacial pain specialist patients report less discomfort, lack of efficacy or other frequent side-effects like dry mouth, tooth pain, dental discomfort and jaw pain.
Follow Oral Splint Protocols
A jaw splint can be very effective and help a person avoid developing TMJD.