Introduction
Teeth grinding is a malfunction of the human masticatory system and if left untreated, it can lead to excessive tooth wear, muscle pain or inflammation of the periodontium. For this reason, teeth grinding should be treated. As a rule, the dental therapy of teeth grinding is a splint therapy.
Grinding your teeth what to do?
If the teeth grinding has been diagnosed by the dentist, the therapy can be started. The first step is an impression of the upper and lower teeth. The splint (Michigan splint, centric splint) is usually made for the upper jaw, but can be made for the lower jaw in special cases.
The impressions for the therapy against teeth grinding are given to the dental laboratory where the plastic splint is made. In a second appointment the splint is fitted and given to the patient. A normal plastic splint is usually paid for by the health insurance company. For individualization measures must be paid privately, the cost varies depending on the effort.
Types of therapy
There are two different types of plastic splints as therapy against psychogenic teeth grinding. Standardized is a splint made of hard plastic, which is “grinded” instead of the natural teeth when worn, and thus has a protective function. In addition, such a splint provides relief for the temporomandibular joint.
Besides the splint made of hard plastic, a splint made of soft plastic is also used. The soft plastic should ensure that the teeth grinding stops due to the soft surface. Both splints are currently in use, which splint is used depends on the dentist and the individual patient situation.
Bite splint
The use of individually manufactured crunching splints has proven to be the most effective method in the treatment of bruxism. In addition, they are used to compensate for misalignments and inequalities in the upper and lower jaw. This prevents further damage to the teeth, jaw muscles and jaw joints. However, it should be noted that splint therapy alone cannot treat all causes of bruxism. First and foremost, it serves to alleviate symptoms and protect the teeth from further damage.
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