Occlusal splints are specially designed for your teeth and are worn at night to provide protection.

Many people grind their teeth or clench their jaws, especially in their sleep. If you do so regularly, even excessively, this can lead to tooth wear, tooth damage, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, and frequently needing fillings.

Occlusal Splints

If you have worn or damaged teeth, it is important to protect them from further wear and damage.

An occlusal splint is an effective solution. It can be made for either your upper or lower teeth and is normally worn at night. At Road Dental we will design your custom occlusal splint to fit perfectly over your teeth.

Are you experiencing pain or dysfunction in your jaw or temporomandibular joints (TMJ)?

In addition to these measures, we do our utmost to set aside an allocated time slot every day when we can perform emergency treatments. This is to ensure that the dental problem is prevented from worsening, and your discomfort is alleviated as quickly as possible. We want you to experience a full recovery in the shortest possible time frame.

An occlusal splint looks a bit like a mouthguard, but it serves a very different purpose.

At Road Dental, we make custom fitted mouthguards for those participating in sport. A mouthguard is made to protect your teeth and reduce the risk of dental trauma during sport.

An occlusal splint is made to cover the biting surfaces of your teeth. By equally distributing the contact between your teeth, an occlusal splint promotes muscle relaxation. This, in effect, combats pain associated with jaw and TMJ problems. It also serves to protect your teeth from the harmful effects of regularly grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. The anterior guidance is a result of both anterior tooth position and condylar border movements.

If you think that you might benefit from a custom fitted occlusal splint, please make an appointment to see our expert dental team. We will provide all the professional advice you need.

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Occlusal Splints FAQs

If you grind your teeth, clench your jaw, or experience jaw pain, you may benefit from an occlusal splint. Below are answers to the most common questions about occlusal splints, how they work, and how they protect your teeth and jaw.

An occlusal splint is a custom-made dental appliance that fits over your upper or lower teeth. It is usually worn at night to protect your teeth from grinding and clenching and to reduce strain on your jaw joints and muscles.

An occlusal splint is used to protect teeth from damage caused by grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching. It also helps reduce jaw pain, muscle tension, and discomfort related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems.

Common signs of teeth grinding include worn or flattened teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, frequent headaches, jaw pain, facial muscle soreness, and increased tooth sensitivity. In many cases, people are unaware they grind their teeth until a dentist identifies the signs.

An occlusal splint works by evenly distributing the contact between your teeth. This reduces pressure on specific teeth and promotes muscle relaxation. As a result, it can relieve tension, reduce inflammation in the jaw joints, and help manage TMJ-related pain.

No. While an occlusal splint may look similar to a sports mouthguard, they serve different purposes. A sports mouthguard protects your teeth from trauma during physical activity. An occlusal splint is designed to manage teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and TMJ dysfunction.

Yes. A custom-made occlusal splint is specifically designed to fit your teeth comfortably and accurately. Over-the-counter night guards may not fit properly, can feel bulky, and may not provide the same level of protection or jaw support.

An occlusal splint does not always stop the grinding habit itself, but it protects your teeth from damage and reduces the pressure placed on your jaw joints and muscles. This significantly lowers the risk of further tooth wear and pain.

Most patients wear their occlusal splint at night on an ongoing basis, especially if they grind their teeth regularly. Your dentist will monitor your progress and advise you on the appropriate duration of use.

Yes. If you already have worn, chipped, or cracked teeth, wearing an occlusal splint helps prevent further wear and damage. Protecting your teeth early can reduce the need for additional fillings, crowns, or restorative treatment.

If you are experiencing jaw pain, headaches, clicking sounds in your jaw, or signs of teeth grinding, book an appointment with our dental team. We will assess your teeth and jaw function and determine whether a custom occlusal splint is the right solution for you.

If you need to see a dentist immediately, contact the friendly team at

Road Dental to get an emergency appointment.