Splinting is most often recognized as a technique used to stabilize teeth that have become loose due to gum disease.

Periodontal disease is likely to progress and lead to further loss of teeth if left untreated. Since teeth become loose, they tend to space out and drift whenever you chew or speak even.

Periodontal splinting of teeth is one of the most effective procedures for fixing loose teeth. Patients have a number of options for teeth splinting. So, it pays to do your research and consult your doctor before choosing a treatment course.

Periodontal Splinting Procedures:

The mechanical approach to splinting modifies forces applied to the affected teeth by treating the effects of force being applied on the periodontal ligament, and also by amending the amount of biting force generated by splinting jaw muscles and received by the teeth during biting.

• Occlusal Adjustment: This method adjusts the bite or occlusion (how the teeth come together) of the teeth by a minor reshaping of the biting surfaces so there is lesser force received and even distributed, minimizing mobility.
• Splinting: If multiple teeth have lost their strength due to periodontal disease, they can be joined together like pickets in a fence so that the biting force is distributed evenly to a selection of teeth rather than a single tooth.
• Temporary splinting: It is achieved by joining teeth together with either an extra-coronal splint or intra-coronal splints.
• Permanent or fixed splinting: This method permanently fixes loose teeth by crowning the affected teeth together and fabricating a splint in which the crowns are joined together.
• Occlusal splints or guards: If grinding habits are evident in the patient, then a removable bite guard may further protect the teeth from the force being applied to the area.

Alternatives to Periodontal Splinting

Orthodontic treatment is often seen as an alternative method to splinting. It repositions teeth so that the received forces are evenly spread out.

However, it can be a complicated process to work with – especially if there is an underlying periodontal disease that must be controlled before orthodontic treatment can be successful.

We must take into consideration that periodontitis is a disease, if not adequately managed, comes with progressive attachment loss and eventually tooth loss.

On the other hand, if it is managed appropriately, involving a systematic and thorough control of the periodontal inflammation, periodontally affected teeth can be retained long-term, at limited costs.

Treatment Costs and Duration

Dental bonding and splinting costs close to $100 to $400 per tooth. This makes it an affordable way to fix minor cosmetic dentistry.

The duration of the procedure proves to be an added stress for individuals afraid of any medical procedures. Although it depends on case to case, this might give you an insight about the time you will be sparing for this task – if your tooth has loosened severely because of trauma, a dental splint is used to stabilize it while it heals.

Normally you are required to wear the splint for 14-days but in some cases again, it may take longer. At the end of the day, the long-term outlook of the teeth must be considered before deciding upon treatment options.

While temporary splinting can prove to be a short-term resort only for some, the teeth themselves may need to be replaced if the damage is severe. Hence, it is imperative to see your dentist or periodontist for a complete, thorough examination before you resort to any treatment.

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