Treatment Example: TMD Pain Eased with a Digitally Made Splint

This case example shows how TMD symptoms can be relieved with a digitally planned, custom-made occlusal splint.

Anonymized representation of a real treatment professionally published by our practice. Every case is different: the treatment approach, duration, and outcome of this individual case cannot be transferred to other patients.

Jaw and facial pain, clicking when opening, a tense neck in the morning: This pattern of symptoms is often caused by temporomandibular disorder. This case example shows how we accompanied a patient in our practice in Cologne with a splint fabricated in our in-house master dental laboratory – from digital scan to fine adjustment.

The Initial Situation

A patient came to us with recurring jaw and facial pain, morning jaw clicking, and tension in her neck. At night she was grinding her teeth – a typical picture of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), in which the temporomandibular joint and chewing muscles have become imbalanced.

The Diagnostics: Digital Instead of Impression

Instead of a traditional impression, we captured the masticatory system completely digitally: intraoral scan, functional analysis, and digital temporomandibular joint measurement. This allowed us to precisely determine where the misalignment originates and how a splint must specifically relieve the temporomandibular joints.

The Treatment with Custom Occlusal Splint

Based on the digital planning, our in-house master dental laboratory fabricated a custom occlusal splint – precisely fitted and tailored to the patient’s loading situation. In several short follow-up appointments, the splint was fine-tuned. We also use the same splint and laboratory expertise for snoring & sleep apnea .

The Result

After a few weeks, the pain decreased significantly, the jaw clicking became less frequent, and the nighttime tension noticeably subsided. The patient continues to wear the splint for stabilization – with considerably more quality of life.

Why We Show This Case

It shows that TMD symptoms can often be gently relieved with a carefully planned, custom-made splint – without premature, invasive interventions. A thorough functional diagnosis is essential. More information on our page about TMD pain therapy in Cologne. The professional foundation is described in our publication Digital Occlusal Splints for TMD.

Frequently Asked Questions About TMD Splints

What is a TMD or occlusal splint?

A custom-made splint that relieves the temporomandibular joints and chewing muscles, compensates for misalignments, and protects the teeth from nighttime grinding (bruxism). It is usually worn at night.

Does a splint really help against jaw pain and clicking?

For muscular and occlusal TMD, splint therapy is an established, minimally invasive first measure. What matters is that the splint is planned after a precise functional analysis and is regularly monitored and adjusted.

How long do I have to wear the splint?

This varies from person to person. Often, wearing the appliance at night for a few weeks brings noticeable improvement; for stabilization, the appliance is often worn for a longer period.

What happens after splint therapy?

After three to six months, we check whether the symptoms have improved. Often, it is then sufficient to continue wearing the splint at night. If the bite itself contributes significantly to the misalignment, the corrected jaw position can then be permanently anchored in your own bite – for example, by adjusting the teeth with aligners so that they naturally support this position.

Does health insurance cover the costs?

For medically justified functional disorders, statutory and private health insurance often contributes to a functional therapy splint, depending on the diagnosis and plan. We will discuss this transparently with you during the consultation.