"There is a lot of important
information in this website."
Dr. Neil Speight, MD
Center for Wellness
Mathews, NC Board Certified
Paul Plascyk, DDS, General Dentist Charlotte NC
NC Implant Cosmetic Charlotte
Cosmetic Porcelain Veneer Implant Dentist Charlotte NC
As a dentist who routinely incorporates TMJ or neuromuscular therapy in his care, Dr, Plascyk does a splint and guard therapy for his patients. A bite guard or splint is a piece of hard plastic that fits between the upper and lower teeth. The guard or splint controls how the top or bottom teeth come together upon it. This, in turn, controls the position of the jaw and reduces stress on the TMJ (jaw joints), jaw muscles and the teeth, which controls damage to the soft and hard tissues of the TMJ (jaw joint) and the mouth.
Two basic types of dental splints or guards are directive splints and permissive splints. Directive splints hold the lower jaw in a fixed position. Dr. Plascyk does not use these types of splints. Permissive splints or guards allow the jaw to move freely when the opposing teeth are contacting it. Permissive splints are the most common type of splints used by dentists.
Splints are typically made to 1) treat TMD (TMJ) pain and/or dysfunction caused by occluso-muscle disorder, 2) protect the teeth from excessive wear from occlusal disease or 3) for both problems.
Guards can be purchased in stores also. Unlike the typical bite guard made by a dentist, a store-bought guard is made of soft material. Since the material is soft and it is not made by a dentist, jaw position and movements cannot be controlled. Dr. Plascyk does not recommend them.
I have often found that patients are incorrectly treated with guards/splints when they have TMD (TMJ) pain caused by occluso-muscle disorder. Guards are often given to patients without any proper planning or follow-up. Guards have to be made correctly and worn correctly for them to work. Guards therapy also takes a lot of patience from the doctor as well as patient. I have found that guards are extremely effective for my patients if the correct time and effort is put into them. Finally, even if made correctly, guards/splints will not help TMD (TMJ) pain and dysfunction if it is not caused or exacerbated by occluso-muscle disorder.
- back to TMJ, Dentist Charlotte NC page -
--- Most information below can be more conveniently
retrieved by using the navigation buttons on
the top of this page. ---
Bite Balancing, Equilibration, Occlusion, Splint, Guard Appliance
http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&q=charlotte%20nc http://maps.google.com/maps?q=charlotte%20nc%20&hl=en&emb=0&sa=N&tab=vl
TMJ Splints/Guards, Occlucal Adjustment Dentists
http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/http://www.ncsu.edu/http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/ http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501983-charlotte_vacations-i
Charlotte, North Carolina, NC 28277
http://www.charlottechamber.com/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/http://charlotte.com/ http://charlotte.craigslist.org/