for those who cant afford a splint... - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

hayley0610 · 12-16-2004, 03:55 PM

i am sure this has been discussed here before but i wanted to share a diy secret my doc told me about. if you cant afford a splint go to a major dept store in their sports section and buy a mouth guard, like one they use for hockey. it should be under $5 and u will have to trim it to form in ur mouth and most of them u have to put in hot water to soften and take shape of ur mouth but it will direct u on the package. now of course this is not as good as a real splint but its good for teeth grinders for protection and some tmj relief. it will feel funny at first but after a little while you wont even notice it.

saaraah · 12-16-2004, 04:53 PM

actually, those cheap splints can cause a lot more problems. they are not a good idea for someone with possible TMJD. i believe that it'd be a better idea to not use anything at all than use a splint that has not been professionally made for the patient's specific problems and dysfunction.

- saaraah.

hayley0610 · 12-16-2004, 07:44 PM

when i heard about this idea it was from my doc and then followed with an ok by my dentist, when at that time i had no dental insurance. im not sure why this would be bad for you at all as it seems like common sense to me that it would still work perhaps just not as well. sometimes we have to make do with what is available to us and some help is better than nothing.what have u heard that made u feel this way?

jmdombr · 12-16-2004, 08:30 PM

I would reccomend the sleep right night guard its like $69 and has been a great help for a flat plane night guard. Very comfortable and no customizing needed.

SarahF · 12-16-2004, 08:34 PM

I used one of those splints and as a grinder AND a chronic clencher, the softness of it just gave me something to chew on and that made the muscular issues in my neck and face go into spasm.

Yes it will protect you from grinding, but if you clench it will only make the problem worse.