Question:
I recently took my 10yo to the ortho. He is a terrible
toothgrinder (takes after me) It turns out his teeth are ground down to
the nerve endings. The ortho said we should make him a splint. I suppose
it seems only reasonable but I am vwery familiar with these devices. I
had a few of them because of my TMJ. It always seemed like mine did'nt
last too long. I'd grind them until they cracked or they just didn't fit
properly after a while because my teeth would shift. Why not just use a
football mouth piece? It cant hurt can it?
Answer:
I tried making a soft bite guard for my wife while I was still in
dental school. She chewed completely through it in two nights. The
problem with kids though is that everything is still growing.
Football mouth pieces tend to be soft and rubbery, these type of
appliances will actually increase grinding of the teeth. The harder
bruxism appliances are not likely to do the same.
I'm no expert but this is just a thought regarding improperly fabricated
splints like one a patient might make..
If the splint repositions the mandible anteriorly or laterally or
anyplace else and wears it long term (over a few weeks), the retrodiscal
tissue could fibrose and prevent the condyles from reseating. This could
result in damage requiring extensive tx for correction. It may never be
corrected. If that ain't true, it's at least the way I members. Of
course, my knowledge of this subject is not extensive.
