Oral Splint Stabilization
Understanding Oral Splint Stabilization and Repositioning for TMD Relief
By Dr. Pathamas Mittman, DDS, MS
Oral splint stabilization and repositioning for jaw pain patients assist with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs).
If you’re dealing with jaw pain, stiffness, or popping sounds, you may be experiencing TMD. Think of this joint as the “hinge” that connects your lower jaw to your skull; it’s in front of your ears on both sides of your face. Because it’s one of the most active joints, used for chewing and talking, your jaw muscles can get strained or injured. This may lead to increased pain.
TMDs can be extremely painful and impact your quality of life. The good news is they’re often treatable and curable, especially with oral splint stabilization and repositioning treatment.
Patients frequently ask several important questions regarding occlusal splint stabilization for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This article will give you answers and hope for improved daily functioning.
What is Oral Splint Stabilization?
Oral Splint Stabilization involves a custom-made device (like a mouthguard or retainer) that is often used in dentistry. Essentially, it helps the jaw and surrounding muscles relax and function properly. Different terms are commonly used by both professionals and patients searching for help. The staff at Minnesota Head & Neck Pain Clinic can help you gain clarity.
An oral splint is also known as:
- Oral appliance.
- Bite splint.
- Bite guards.
- Dental appliance.
- Flat-plane.
- Hard acrylic splint.
- Mouth guards.
- Occlusal splint.
- Oral orthotic device.
- Oral orthotic occlusal appliances.
- Night guard.
How do oral stabilization splints work?
Here’s how stabilization splints function:
A stabilization splint creates a flat, even surface that provides a consistent platform for your teeth to meet. This can help distribute biting forces more evenly across your entire dental arch.
Unlike repositioning splints that guide the jaw into a new position, stabilization splints maintain the jaw’s existing position. This stable platform allows the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to restore natural alignment, particularly when the jaw is resting and not fully engaged. This helps stabilize your bite.
Stabilization splints are commonly worn at night to help alleviate morning symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and restricted mouth movement. For daily use, daytime bite splints work best if worn as needed to mitigate jaw soreness, particularly during periods of stress. While short-term use is often recommended, frequent wear during flare-ups is also suggested.
What are Benefits of Using a Stabilization Splint?
- Protects teeth and restorations: A stabilization splint acts as a physical barrier to enamel, veneers, crowns, a bridge, or dental implants. This “barrier” protects them from damage by grinding and clenching teeth.
- Preventing bruxism negative impact: Bruxism is the involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth, either during sleep or while awake. The mouth guard can help prevent the damaging effects of bruxism, but cannot prevent it.
- Relaxing jaw muscles and reducing tension: A core function of these splints is to relax the muscles and joints in your jaw, helping to release built-up tension. Creating a padded surface between your teeth reduces pressure and stress on the muscles, which in turn can lessen jaw soreness, earaches, and tension headaches. This relaxation also aids in the recovery of your mouth from the stress of jaw reflexes like clenching.
- Promoting natural jaw alignment: As a stabilization splint cushions your teeth and jawline, restoring your TMJ’s natural alignment. This improved alignment can lead to clearer airways for better breathing and a more balanced jaw position.
- Creates a more even and comfortable habit for your teeth to come together: It helps you to “deprogram” or interrupt the ingrained, often unconscious, muscle activities and jaw positions that contribute to temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This allows your jaw system to find a more natural and less strained movement pattern.
- Reducing inflammation: Studies have shown that this treatment can significantly lower the levels of certain chemicals that cause inflammation in the body, specifically substances like IL-7 and IL-13, which were found in the fluid collected from around the gums. This finding indicates that stabilizing splints could positively affect your body’s natural processes, contributing to jaw pain and inflammation.
- Reduces hype muscle activity and pain: The splint lowers electrical signals muscles produce during contraction and relaxation. In turn, a more relaxed jaw posture helps relieve pain. The splint helps your head and neck muscles to relax. This results in less frequent tension-related or neck-related headaches.
What jaw issues might an oral stabilization splint be used for?
To recap and summarize common uses for an oral stabilization splint:
- Bruxism.
- Jaw soreness.
- Muscle fatigue.
- Limited jaw opening.
- Morning jaw soreness.
- Myofascial-type TMD.
- Restricted mouth movement.
- Teeth clenching/grinding.
- Jaw clicking/popping.
What is a Repositioning Splint?
A repositioning splint is a specific type of dental device often used to manage temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). It is a full-coverage dental appliance designed to gently guide and hold the lower jaw (mandible) in a slightly forward position when you close your mouth.
Like all TMD treatments, repositioning splints benefit from professional guidance and monitoring.
A repositioning splint is also known as:
- Anterior repositioning splint.
- Mandibular orthotic repositioning appliance.
- Full-coverage dental appliance.
How does a repositioning splint work?
It typically covers one arch of teeth, often the upper (maxillary) one, and includes a small “ramp” in the front that helps direct your jaw forward by about 1 to 3 millimeters as you bite down. This forward position aims to temporarily bring a displaced TMJ disc back into its proper place, helping to reduce common symptoms like joint clicking or locking.
Your jaw may shift from its optimal position due to various factors like bone development, a sports accident causing trauma to the jaw. These splints are designed to help correctly reposition your jaw’s anatomy. For these splints to be effective, repositioning splints should generally be worn consistently over a short period of time to prevent your bite from an unbalanced alignment.
Board-certified Orofacial Pain Specialists can help differentiate possible causes of your jaw pain and manage your recovery plan.
What are the benefits of using a repositioning splint:
Patients who have recently developed jaw clicking accompanied by painful, loud clicks or intermittent jaw lock typically gain the following benefits.
- Promotes Disc Recapture and Reduces Clicking/Popping: Repositioning splints are designed to help the jaw’s disc return to its proper position within the joint. They do this by gently guiding your lower jaw (mandible) into a slightly forward position, which moves the displaced disc back into place and relieves pressure on the surrounding tissues. This action significantly reduces the jaw-clicking or popping sounds you might experience.
- Increases Muscle Relaxation: These splints contribute to altering muscle activity, promoting increased muscle relaxation. This aligns with the overall function of occlusal splints, which help relax jaw muscles and joints to release tension. They can also relax muscles in the neck and shoulders.
- Eases Pain and Inflammation, Enhancing Joint Function for Healing: By reducing the pressure inside the jaw joint on sensitive tissues, repositioning splints help to ease facial pain and inflammation. This improvement enhances the mechanics and overall function of the joint, allowing it to heal with greater comfort and better function.
Generally, oral appliance therapy is known to lessen pressure and stress in jaw muscles, reducing jaw soreness and tension headaches attributed to TMD. Research indicates that oral splint therapy can help reduce inflammation by affecting certain pro-inflammatory substances in the area.
Comparing the Primary Uses for Oral Splint Stabilization and Repositioning Splints
| Splint Type | Description / Primary Use |
|---|---|
| Stabilization (Flat Plane) Splint | This is the most commonly used splint for treating temporomandibular disorders (TMD). |
| Repositioning Splint | This device alters the position of the jaw joint to relieve stress on the joint and surrounding muscles. |
Stabilization and repositioning splints are for TMJ treatment and for sleep apnea symptoms. In terms of design, both sleep apnea appliances and repositioning splints guide the mandible forward. You can advance sleep apnea appliance to help improve sleep apnea conditions but you cannot adjust in the repositioning splint.
Find Relief from Jaw Pain and Reclaim Better Daily Functioning
If you’re experiencing the persistent discomfort of jaw pain, stiffness, or those bothersome clicking and popping sounds, it’s highly likely you’re dealing with a Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). As we’ve explored, TMDs can significantly impact your daily life, making simple actions like chewing and talking a painful ordeal.
The good news is that effective, often curable, treatments exist, with oral splint stabilization and repositioning playing a key role. Whether it’s a custom-made stabilization splint designed to relax your jaw muscles and protect your teeth from grinding, or a repositioning splint aimed at guiding your jaw back to its optimal alignment and reducing joint noises, these dental appliances offer a path to relief and improved quality of life.
Ready to Explore Oral Splints as a Treatment Option?
Don’t let jaw pain diminish your quality of life any longer. The Minnesota Head & Neck Pain Clinic specializes in diagnosing and treating TMDs, offering personalized solutions that can help you find lasting relief. Our board-certified Orofacial Pain Specialists are here to answer your questions and guide you toward a recovery plan tailored to your unique needs.
Take your first step towards a future with less pain and greater comfort.
