Splint replacement covering the entire lower and upper dental arch with bite guard and with the determination of individual angle values

Abstract

A dental outpatient referred for temporomandibular joint evaluation was also recognized with signs of all three types of tooth wear while examined, ie. attrition, abfraction, and erosion. The advanced dental abrasion led to a subsided bite causing the patient’s masticatory muscle pain complaints. The treatment required complex therapy. After conservative therapy, such as controlling bad habits, relaxing muscles, and performing physiotherapy, invasive therapy was also needed to restore masticatory function and aesthetics. Determining the proper bite height and the central relation is a challenging but essential task. The individual value articulator used during the therapy was partially adjusted to individual values with a computerized ultrasound system (Arcus Digma). The obtained maxillo-mandibular jaw relations could already serve as a base for making a definitive prosthesis. The procedure and tools described in this article may provide guidance in the appropriate care of patients with temporomandibular joint complaints, which are becoming more common today.

Keywords

• temporomandibular joint
• arcus digma
• tooth wear
• jaw relation record
• myalgia