Splint therapy

The temporomandibular joint connects your lower jaw to the bones of your skull and moves the jaw up and down. Problems with this joint are quite common and known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Possible causes include stress, clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism), injury or wear to the jaw joint, or a misaligned bite.

One of the main treatments for TMJ dysfunction is splint therapy, which uses a custom-made oral appliance. There are various types of splints and your dentist will assess which one is best for you.

Benefits

Splint therapy can help alleviate the following uncomfortable symptoms:

• Pain in the jaw, cheek, temple, neck and back
• Headaches
• Locking of the jaw
• Clicking or popping
• Problems when chewing

They can also help to protect against tooth wear, which can reduce the need for more complicated and expensive treatment in the long-term.