What's the difference?? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

tlhalabama · 08-12-2008, 11:33 AM

At my dental appt yesterday, my dentist suggested a new splint becuase my old no longer fits properly.

I have a hard upper splint but he wants to make me a new soft lower splint.

What is the difference besides the feel and upper/lower?

MissHeadache · 08-13-2008, 10:34 AM

Did he tell you the name of the splint he was suggesting? In my experience soft splints tend to be just to protect your teeth from damage caused by grinding and clenching. I had a soft lower night guard for a while and found it made things worse; becasue it was soft I would unconsciously chew/clench on it in my sleep. I now have a hard acrylic lower gelb splint and it seems to be doing a good job so far.

tlhalabama · 08-13-2008, 12:39 PM

I am normally not a grinder/clencher but when my splint is in, I do tend to bite down on it.

My tmj flares up because of eating hard foods, having dental work done, etc...

From what you said, this would probably make mine worse.

Thanks for responding.