Dentists That Offer Mandibular Devices

Mandibular devices are also known as mouth splints that are used to help people with TMJ (temporomandibular joint disease) recover from the condition. These splints are also used to prevent people from grinding their teeth at night. Making the splints is a specialty practiced by orthodontists, dental surgeons and general dentists who have studied the treatment of TMJ with specialists.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

• These dentists use imaging techniques to explore the severity of the TMJ to recommend treatments. Sometimes these specialists use splint therapy, pain medications or pain management techniques. Splints are made from molds of the patient's upper teeth and cast in a plastic material. The splints pull the upper jaw forward, taking the muscles in the joint out of spasm.

  In the most severe cases, these doctors use surgery to correct the problem. These dentists have at last four additional years of training in accredited hospitals that include oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Orthodontists

• Orthodontists treat jaw and tooth alignments and can treat TMJ. Some orthodontists use braces to change the plane of the mouth or use splints. Orthodontists study two or three years longer than general dentists to learn how to straighten teeth and treat TMJ. Orthodontists monitor their patients who wear braces to make sure that the tooth realignment does not cause jaw problems or TMJ.

General Dentists

• Some general dentists take training to treat TMJ. Since dentists are not licensed to perform surgery, if a difficult case presents itself, they refer the patient to an oral or maxillofacial surgeon for more specialized treatment. General dentists evaluate the cause of the TMJ to see whether it is caused by stress or misalignment of the joint. These dentists use splints or mouth guards to relax the joint and can teach the patient relaxation exercises to reduce the muscle tension in the jaw.