Occlusal Splint at Plaza Dental Centre
A dental occlusal splint is a custom-made, removable appliance worn over the teeth to
protect against grinding, clenching, and jaw strain. 
It helps alleviate symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, reduce tooth wear,
and promote relaxation by evening out the bite and cushioning jaw pressure.
Types of Splints
1. Stabilization Splints (Flat Plane Splints)
- Used for jaw muscle relaxation and reducing grinding.
2. Anterior Bite Plane Splints
- Designed to reduce strain on the front teeth and alleviate muscle tension.
3. Repositioning Splints
- Adjusts jaw positioning, often for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues.
4. Soft Occlusal Splints
- Made from softer material, commonly used for mild clenching.
5. Hybrid or Dual Laminate Splints
- Combines hard and soft materials for durability and comfort.
Prices can vary depending on customization. Dental insurance may cover part of the cost in some cases.
What are the Benefits of a Splint?
An occlusal splint has very useful benefits that can drastically improve the quality of your day to day life.
The most beneficial uses of the Occlusal splint is proving protection for your teeth against involuntary grinding and clenching.
Once you start using the Occlusal Splint to help relieve muscle tension in your jaw you will notice the reduction in headaches,
jaw pain, neck pain and soreness.
Among the benefit of pain relief, an occlusal splint helps minimises tooth enamel wear, helping prevent sensitivity and the need for costly dental repairs
It will helps re-establish a more balanced bite by controlling how teeth come together. Reducing jaw pain and discomfort may improve overall sleep quality.
How Long Does it Take to Have a Splint Made?
Typically it takes two appointments to have a custom-made dental splint made.
At your first appointment we take digital impressions of your teeth. Your digital impressions are sent directly to the dental lab or technician who specialise in making custom splints.
A second appointment will be scheduled once your splint is ready for collection. During your second appointment the dentist will ask you to try in your splint and make sure it fits comfortably. The dentist will make any necessary adjustments to the splint to ensure it is fitting comfortably. In the same appointment the dentists will talk you through care instructions .
Are Dental Splints Comfortable to Wear?
Whenever you start wearing a new dental appliance it’s going to take time to get use to the feeling. It often can feel unusual, bulky or strange. At Plaza Dental Centre we make sure the fit is comfortable and most patients adjust to it pretty quickly. Once you start noticing the benefits of your splint you’re not going to sleep without it!
When you start wearing your splint it isn’t uncommon to find that your splint might have fallen out of your mouth during the first few nights. Don’t be alarmed, this is often subconsciously happening while you sleep, when you take your splint out during the night, or it falls out. If this happens, continue to wear your splint at night and over time you will get use to your splint and sleeping with it.
Whilst this might not happen to everyone some of our patients have found an increase in saliva production when using your splint. This is your bodies reaction to a foreign object in your mouth, triggering an increase in saliva. Generally this reaction stops after a few nights of wearing it.
Start Today
Request an appointment today to get started. Flexible payment options are available to easily fit your elective treatments into your monthly budget.
* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.