Splint Types and Functions

Practitioners appreciate a practical approach to all aspects of treatment; splint therapy is no exception. The purpose of this article is to review the current understanding of how splints work, describe various splint types and their uses, and suggest how to ensure their proper design, fabrication, and adjustment. Splint therapy may be defined as the art and science of establishing neuromuscular harmony in the masticatory system and creating a mechanical disadvantage for parafunctional forces with removable appliances. A properly constructed splint supports a harmonious relation among the muscles of mastication, disk assemblies, joints, ligaments, bones, teeth, and tendons.