An oral appliance or bite splint is a reversible management tool, not a cure for TMD. A properly designed and monitored splint can help protect the teeth from the effects of grinding, reduce the load on overworked jaw muscles, and create conditions in which symptoms can improve. However, it does not address the underlying causes of TMD, which may involve muscular habits, stress-related clenching, joint disc displacement, or a combination of factors. A splint used without an accurate diagnosis, without monitoring, or without attention to contributing behaviours may provide partial relief at best and, if poorly designed, can occasionally create additional problems.
Written by Dr. Deepa Jayashankar, MDS (Prosthodontics and Implantology), Fellowship in Temporomandibular Disorders, Orofacial Pain and Sleep Medicine (USA), Founder and Chief Dentist, Tooth Firm Dental Care and Implant Center, 1669/A, 14th Main Road, 7th Sector, HSR Layout, Bengaluru 560102. Phone: +91 8088058704.
