Bite splints are often used in patients who suffer from oral parafunctions, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction or temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The most common reason for prescribing a TMJ splint is to protect the teeth in patients with bruxism, to improve jaw muscle and TMJ function and to relieve pain. Symptoms in such patients include tension headaches, neck and shoulder pain. The goal of these splints is to protect the TMJ disks from dysfunctional forces that may lead to perforations or permanent displacements. They also aim to improve a patients jaw-muscle function and relieve associated pain.
