In the older person, this type of splint is used where the effects of loss of teeth, broken cusps, old worn fillings or heavy wear due to bruxing (excessive grinding) have led to the upper and lower teeth not ‘fitting together’ properly. Sometimes, the bite may even close, or ‘collapse’, reducing the distance between nose and chin when the teeth are together. All this is known as malocclusion.

In the younger person who may have had little or no dental treatment, (or treatment has been confined to orthodontics), lack of wear on teeth may cause the cusps on their back teeth to interfere with chewing, resulting in the painful symptoms mentioned below.

At its most extreme, malocclusion causes the teeth to take control of the jaw, twisting the jaw muscles, causing muscle spasm and pain and forcing the lower jaw out of position.

More often, in less extreme instances, our bodies adapt before painful symptoms can appear. Perhaps all the teeth wear uniformly, or individual teeth become loose or move, or we break off those cusps that get in the way of our chewing; or perhaps we unconsciously teach our muscles to avoid those chewing positions that might cause us pain, developing habits that keep individual muscles tense (‘fired up’).

In the long-term, it is this continuing muscle tension that can lead to muscle spasm (similar to getting a ‘stitch’ in your leg when running).

Once established, these habits make it impossible for you to put your jaw in an ideal position, and this can be a problem when we set out to restore your bite and/or your appearance.  If the teeth are restored to the habit-formed, adapted position, the muscles can be set in a tense state which may lead to problems in later life. 

Our aim is to obtain harmony between muscles, joints and teeth.

Thus we use the diagnostic splint to allow the jaw to find its proper position by removing the teeth as the dominant and controlling factors and letting the jaw function correctly. Once we have established a comfortable, harmonious position for the jaw, then your teeth can be restored sympathetically..

A diagnostic splint is made of a hard, clear acrylic and is most often worn over your lower teeth.  It should be worn for more than twelve hours a day – i.e. it should be in your mouth for longer than it is out. 

It is generally worn for three months, with regular appointments for adjustment, the first after one week, then at the second and fourth weeks with two more at monthly intervals.