According to the National Sleep Foundation, as many as 8% of adults grind their teeth at night and over a third of parents report that their children exhibit symptoms of teeth grinding (bruxism). Teeth grinding isn’t just a bad habit. It can wear down enamel, cause cracks, or even loosen and destroy teeth. It also often causes jaw pain, tight jaw muscles, and headaches.

And there’s still a lot we don’t know about the causes of bruxism. Some cases may result from malocclusion, but new research suggests that many can be traced back to stress, anxiety, and even sleep apnea and fatigue.

As a dentists or orthodontist, you aren’t in a position to help your patients balance their stressful lives, but you can help to keep them from grinding their teeth in their sleep. One great option is a simple-yet-effective dental appliance called the Oakes Splint U. This appliance is specifically designed to prevent clenching and grinding while your patient is asleep (or awake). The Oakes Splint U features a maxillary lingual anterior bite plane that is built so that only the lower incisors contact the acrylic. This prevents teeth from touching and the temporalis muscles from making strong contractions. The Oakes Splint U protects your patients’ teeth and may help eliminate their unconscious grinding habit altogether.

At SML Global, our network of dental laboratories can manufacture Oakes Splints for your patients. Contact us to learn more.