Occlusal Splints and Temporomandibular Disorders: Why, When, How?

From Volume 28, Issue 4, May 2001 | Pages 194-199

Authors

R.J.M. Gray

BDS, MDS, PhD, MFGDP

Department of Dental Medicine and Surgery, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester

Articles by R.J.M. Gray

S.J. Davies

BDS, FDS RCS, MB Bch, FRCS

Department of Dental Medicine and Surgery, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester

Articles by S.J. Davies

Abstract

Occlusal splints are one form of treatment in the management of patients with a temporomandibular disorder. Appliances are often used in conjunction with other forms of treatment such as physiotherapy or medication. A variety of splints is described in the literature and the dentist must ensure that the splint prescribed is of a design that has a proven success rate for the specific diagnosis. General principles that apply to the provision of all splints are outlined in this paper.

Article