Splints

Definition:
A rigid or flexible appliance for fixation of displaced or moveable parts
To supply support for the purpose of immobilizing an injured or displaced body part.

Types of splints:
1. Fixed dental splints
2. Removable dental splints
Fixed Dental Splints

Fixed dental splints are further divided in to

A. sectional acrylic cap splint
B. vacuum/pressure form splint
C. Interdental wiring
D. Arch Bar

A: SECTIONAL ACRYLIC CAP:

Uses:
1. immobilization of dentoalveolar bone
2. mandibular fracture

Advantages:
1. simplicity of the appliance
2. Little lap equipment is required for its construction.

B: VACUUM/ PRESSURE FORMED APPLIANCE

Uses:
Fixation of the dentoalveolar bone
Advantages:
1. method of construction is extremely simple and not time taking
2. highly plasticized material in sheet form can be used
Two basic Techniques:
1. vacuum forming (suck down)
2. pressure forming (blow down)

C: INTERDENTAL WIRING:
1. The soft stainless tell wires are used for this type of fixation
2. It is the most important that the ligature are applied to several adjacent
teeth on both side of traumatized area to achieved sufficient stabilization
 3. For additional stability cold cure acrylic can be placed around the interdental
ligatures

4. The stabilization properties of this ligatures are limited due to lack of the
rigidity especially when the wires become to stretch
5. So the interdental wiring should be limited to the fixation of the single
traumatized tooth.

D: ARCH BAR:
1. Metal bar fitted to dental arch and ligated to
individual teeth are commonly used.
2. Most often a semicircular soft metal bar is
manually shaped to fit the dental arch.
3. This is used for immobilization of avulsed and
partially displaced tooth.

Removable Dental Splints

A: Occlusal splints
Occlusal splints are used in tempero-mendibular
disorder patient

Occlusal splints are further divided into:

A. Auto-repositioning / Stabilizing splints

B. Anterior- repositioning
A. AUTO-REPOSITIONING / STABILIZING SPLINTS:
1. It is mostly used to treat muscle problems and
eliminate TMJ pain.
2. This splint allow full arch dental contact with the
condyles in more posterior retruded position.
3. This also allows the patient to seek a comfortable
muscle & joint position without excessive
influence of occlusion

A. ANTERIOR- REPOSITIONING
1. Used for temporary relief in rare cases & long term cure for anterior disc
displacement.
2. In this case the anterior position is determined by protrusion of mandible necessary
to produce proper disc & condyle relationship.
3. These are usually worn 24 hours a day for several months.
4. These splints are generally effective in producing permanent reduction of disc
displacement.

SVED Splints

1. It is a removable appliance fabricated in acrylic.

2. It is constructed such that the acrylic extends over the occlusal / incisal surface of the
tooth thereby fixing stabilizing it.