Consultation with your dentist is important to ensure your splint is correctly designed to help with your condition. Splint designs can vary significantly depending on the goals of treatment, such as jaw pain, protection of teeth, or jaw repositioning. If you or your dentist suspect that sleep issues may be a problem, you may be referred for a sleep study to assess for other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

Once you have been assessed for a splint, your dentist will take several records of your teeth for the splint to be manufactured. These include measurements of your jaw, photos and scans of your jaw. These records are sent for your custom splint to be manufactured.

When your custom splint is received, your dentist will ensure that it fits comfortably without excessive pressure, checking that your jaws are balanced while wearing your splint, as well as adjusting it to accomodate for your grinding patterns. These adjustments may need to be performed every few months, so it is important to bring your splint to your regular dental visits.

Your dentist will discuss and demonstrate the correct care and cleaning methods for your splint. If a mandibular advancement splint has been provided, your dentist will also demonstrate how to adjust the appliance at home. These instructions will allow your splint to remain as clean, effective and long lasting as possible.