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The Biggest Myths About Dental Splints - What Every Dentist Needs to Know
Educational Objectives
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify Common Misconceptions: Recognize the most prevalent myths about dental splints and their design, and understand how these misconceptions impact patient outcomes.
- Evaluate Splint Effectiveness: Analyze the clinical consequences of poorly designed splints, including how they can worsen TMJ symptoms, destabilize the bite, or cause patient discomfort.
- Understand Individualized Design Principles: Explore evidence-based approaches to creating customized splints that address the unique needs of each patient, promoting relief and improved function.
- Collaborate Effectively with Labs: Learn how to communicate precise specifications to dental labs to ensure splints are properly fabricated to meet therapeutic goals.
- Improve Patient Compliance: Develop strategies to educate patients on the importance of wearing their splints and how to address common complaints about discomfort or ineffectiveness.
- Refine Clinical Skills: Gain practical insights into diagnosing splint-related failures, making necessary adjustments, and selecting the right type of appliance for specific TMJ or occlusal cases.
Abstract
Dental splints are a cornerstone of TMJ and occlusal therapy, but misconceptions and outdated practices can often lead to suboptimal results — or even harm — for patients. Most patients avoid wearing their splints because many find that the appliances actually make their symptoms worse, leading to increased discomfort, frustration, and a lack of trust in the treatment, and their dentist.
What we were taught about splints and what many dental labs are producing may actually be contributing to worse outcomes for our patients. Traditional teaching often emphasizes generic designs or outdated principles that don't account for the complexities of TMJ disorders, bite dynamics, or individual patient needs. Many labs, following these same conventional guidelines, create splints that are overly rigid, improperly balanced, or poorly adapted to the patient’s unique occlusion.
These one-size-fits-all splints can exacerbate TMJ symptoms, increase muscle tension, and destabilize the jaw rather than providing the relief they’re intended to deliver. It’s time to critically reassess what we’ve learned and demand better collaboration with labs to ensure our splints are truly therapeutic and not causing harm.
Are you relying on splint "rules" that might be more myth than fact?
Join us for “The Biggest Myths About Dental Splints - What Every Dentist Needs to Know,” an eye-opening webinar that tackles the most common misunderstandings about dental splints. Discover how these myths could be affecting your patient outcomes and learn evidence-based strategies to improve your approach.
In this webinar, we'll explore:
- The truth about splint design and its impact on TMJ function
- Misconceptions about occlusion and splint therapy effectiveness
- Why one-size-fits-all splints fail your patients
- The role of patient compliance - and how to increase it
- Key adjustments to avoid making TMJ symptoms worse
Whether you’re new to splint therapy or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide actionable insights to help you avoid common pitfalls and elevate your TMJ treatment outcomes.
Additional Information
Author Bio
Dr. Agatha Bis
Dr. Agatha Bis graduated from the University of Toronto with a chemistry science degree, and obtained a DDS from the University of Western Ontario.
Dr. Bis is focused on enhancing dental practice growth, success, and long-term health through systemization and implementation of advanced dental technology.
Dr. Bis has a deep clinical interest in TMD and complex or mutilated dentition patients and has incorporated digital technology to help her guide the process of restoring such cases from start to finish. Her passion for inspiring others to reach and exceed their goals and expectations is remarkable.
Disclosures
Commercial Disclosure
This free Dental Learning presentation is made possible through the continued support of . Dr. Agatha Bis is a consultant and/or speaker for the following companies and/or organizations: Dental Learning, . Dr. Agatha Bis may receive an honorarium as compensation from the CE Supporter of this presentation and/or from Dental Learning for the time involved in preparing and delivering this online presentation.
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