Splinting

 

A splint is defined as an apparatus used to support, protect or immobilize teeth that have been loosened, replanted, fractured or subjected to certain endodontic surgical procedures. The dental splints attaches the week teeth together, turning them into a single unit that is stable and strong than the single teeth by themselves. The procedure is most commonly performed on the front teeth.

There are 3 common reasons for the teeth to become loose :

1. Loss of attachment which leads to ligament damage ;

2. Heavy bite force (primary occlusal trauma) which is often a result of grinding and clenching of teeth ;

3. Gum disease resulting in extensive bone loss around a tooth, which in turn results in (secondary occlusal trauma) or a combination of both.

In dental splinting the teeth are joined together using a thin fiber reinforced wire thereby increasing their stability. This procedure allows you to save your teeth and also reduces the pain that a very mobile tooth can cause. Mobile lower anterior teeth are a common complaint of dental patients with fairly advanced periodontal disease.

Technique : The most commonly used technique for splinting is to use orthodontic stainless steel wire, bonded on to the inner surface of the teeth with composite which acts as a splint. This method has some success but the metal is rigid and tends to come loose and fail in time. Another disadvantage of this technique is that there is no true bonding between the metal wire and the composite filling material. There can also be aesthetic compromise with this technique.

                         In a relatively new technique for dental splinting, a fiber reinforced composite periodontal splint stabilizes the mobile teeth and ensure a more comfortable chewing function for the patient. In this technique glass fiber strands embedded into a polymer Bis GMA matrix are used to reinforce the composite filling material which splints the mobile teeth together. Here a true bonding is obtained between the glass fibers and the composite filling material. A fiber splint constructed in this way will form a reliable integrated structure which will give a potentially long term solution to problem of mobile teeth. The fibers are transparent and unnoticeable when covered with tooth colored composite filling material which creates an aesthetically pleasing splint on the inside of the mobile teeth.

                    The whole Dental splinting procedure is completed in one session and can take couple of hours. Almost all the cases of fiber bond splinting are completed without local anesthesia. However in case of periodontal disease, splinting does not cure the problem, but simply stabilizes the teeth for comfortable function. Periodontal disease requires treatment via, deep cleaning, antibiotics, frequent maintenance visits, proper home care and sometimes surgery.

About the author:

Name: Dr. Abhilash Dandy

Qualification: B.D.S

I graduated as a Dentist from Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur. I have done my externship program at Rutgers school of dental medicine, New Jersey, USA. I have clinical experience of 3 years and currently working as Administrative head — Dental wing in MediCub India, Hyderabad.