Is a splint necessary after dental implant treatment?

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Grinding and clenching the teeth is a parafunctional habit called bruxism. It is quite common and can be painful and destructive both for our teeth and for dental implants if we have them.

Fortunately, night guards exist to help anyone who clench and grind their teeth while sleeping to reduce the potential consequences of this habit.

Bruxism is quite common, in fact, practically all of us clench our teeth at night, especially in stages of greater stress and anxiety. It is possible that we do it unconsciously and do not even realize that we have it.

The most characteristic symptoms, in addition to squeezing or grinding, are waking up with headaches, jaw pain, facial pain, fatigue from lack of sleep, and even neck problems.

Occasional grinding or clenching may not be a major concern, but long-term constant bruxism can lead to tooth enamel wear and even fracture of the teeth, which sometimes, if not restored, will lead to tooth loss.

In cases where we already have implants placed to rehabilitate missing teeth, when these replace our tooth, they can suffer in the same way, giving rise to similar problems.

What is a dental splint?

Dental splints are widely used devices in dentistry and are normally made of plastic or acrylic to fit each mouth.

The objectives for which dental splints are designed and manufactured are diverse. They can be used to align teeth in orthodontic treatment or to protect the mouth from impact in the case of sports splints, for example.

discharge splints

The type of splint that this article deals with is called "Unloading splint" and its objective is to protect the mouth: teeth, gums, bones and joints, not from external impacts, but from our own chewing forces.

The splints act as a barrier, preventing contact between the upper and lower teeth when opening and closing the mouth.

This night protection helps relieve tension and provides cushioning to the jaw muscles, which helps prevent facial pain and prevents wear on teeth and implant prostheses in the event that we are carriers.

Teeth have a higher level of sensory capabilities that come from receptors in joints, muscles, and the periodontal ligament. These sensations allow the tooth and the muscles to function in balance, with an appropriate action of the masticatory forces.

Implants, unlike teeth, lack this periodontal ligament, so sensory capacity is reduced, and the level of bite forces generated is not accurately perceived. In addition, since there is no such periodontal ligament, the masticatory forces are not cushioned, which can cause problems with the implants.

In the case of prostheses, porcelain is more fragile than our enamel, so it must be protected equally or more.

Source: adeslasdental

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