What is bruxism
Bruxism is an involuntary habit of clenching or grinding the teeth during sleep. According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3), it is classified as a sleep-related movement disorder and occurs in 8–31% of adults. Bruxism destroys tooth enamel silently, millimetre by millimetre, for months or even years before the patient feels pain. Enamel does not regenerate: when a dentist measures the wear and compares it with a radiograph from three years prior, the loss is visible and irreversible.
Clinical signs identified by the dentist
A diagnosis does not require someone to hear nocturnal grinding. On clinical examination, three objective markers exist that are independent of the patient's complaints. First: the occlusal surface of the molars loses its cusps and becomes flat. Second: the maxillary central incisors develop a straight incisal edge instead of the slightly rounded shape corresponding to the original anatomy. Third: palpation of the masseter muscle — the soft tissue mass in front of the ear — elicits tenderness under pressure, even if the patient has not reported spontaneous pain. A maximum mouth opening of less than forty millimetres in an adult indicates concomitant muscle contracture.
Symptoms the patient does not associate with teeth
The patient may complain of symptoms without linking them to bruxism: morning headache predominantly in the temples, a sensation of ear fullness without a diagnosis of otitis, stiffness of the lower jaw in the first minutes after waking, and tooth sensitivity to cold despite a normal radiograph. The presence of three or more of these signs indicates active bruxism regardless of whether anyone has heard nocturnal grinding.
H2: What a decompression splint does: effects with figures A decompression splint addresses two tasks simultaneously. First — physical protection: a layer of acrylic resin between the teeth absorbs compressive forces of up to 250 kg/cm² that would otherwise destroy enamel. Second — neuromuscular: according to a randomised controlled trial published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (Miyake et al., 2019), a properly fitted splint reduces electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles during sleep by 34% (p < 0.01).
Clinically, this translates into a reduction in morning headaches in seven out of ten patients within the first four weeks of wear. What the splint does not do: it does not alter the neurological origin of bruxism. After removal, the clenching pattern returns. Effectiveness depends on continuous nightly wear. The splint also does not replace management of factors that perpetuate bruxism — chronic stress, sleep apnoea, SSRI medications — but works alongside them.
Similar devices that do not replace a clinical splint
Four types of devices cause frequent confusion in the clinic. A mandibular advancement splint displaces the jaw forward to widen the airway: its indication is obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring, not bruxism; it does not distribute occlusal loads. A sports mouthguard absorbs external physical impacts during sports: its thickness and geometry are not designed to manage the repetitive loads of nocturnal bruxism. Over‑the‑counter thermoplastic splints are heat‑adapted to the dental arch but lack the calibrated occlusal contacts of a clinical splint; in patients with severe bruxism, the soft material can increase muscle activity by stimulating the masticatory reflex instead of interrupting it. An orthodontic retention splint maintains tooth position after treatment and does not serve an occlusal decompression function.
Manufacturing process at Corona Dental
The process involves three visits and laboratory work in between. First visit: the dentist records the wear pattern, palpates the masticatory muscles and assesses the temporomandibular joint during opening, closing and lateral movements; when clinically indicated, an orthopantomogram is performed directly in the clinic with results in five minutes without referral to an external centre. Second visit: we take impressions of both dental arches and record the mandibular position in centric relation; in cases using an intraoral scanner, we dispense with traditional impression materials and send the digital file directly to the laboratory. In the laboratory, the dental technician polymerises resin on the models, mills the specified geometry and polishes the contact surfaces within seven to ten working days. Third visit: we fit the splint and adjust the occlusal contacts using twelve‑micron articulating paper until distribution is even; improper fitting concentrates load at specific points and can worsen the joint condition, so the adjustment visit is part of the treatment, not a formality. Follow‑up at one month, three months and an annual examination: the degree of resin wear determines when the splint needs replacement.
Bruxism and dental implants
A natural tooth has a periodontal ligament — a fibrous structure that acts as a shock absorber and distributes axial and non‑axial loads. An osseointegrated implant transmits forces directly to the bone without this intermediary mechanism. Under the accumulated pressure of nocturnal contractions in bruxism, the ceramic crown on the implant receives loads for which it was not designed: the most frequent consequences are crown fracture, followed by loosening of the screw connecting the abutment to the implant, and in the most severe cases, compromise of osseointegration itself. In such patients, the decompression splint ceases to be a recommended option and becomes a mandatory component of the implant maintenance plan.
Bruxism in children and adolescents
During the mixed dentition period — when a child has both primary teeth at different stages of resorption and permanent teeth at different stages of eruption — the masticatory system operates under conditions of unstable occlusion. Nocturnal grinding in this context is often an adaptive response of the system rather than an established pathology. The paediatric dentist measures wear at each examination and distinguishes between physiological wear inherent to tooth replacement and active wear of already erupted permanent teeth. An indication for a splint in children requires three simultaneous conditions: measurable active wear of erupted permanent teeth, symptoms of joint or muscle pain, and persistence of the pattern beyond the expected duration of the mixed dentition phase. When all three conditions are present, the device is designed with a growth allowance and reviewed every four to six months.
Where we manufacture the splint in Barcelona
Corona Dental is located at c/Entença, 69, Barcelona, a two‑minute walk from Rocafort metro station (line L1). Diagnosis, impression taking, fitting and follow‑up are all carried out in one clinic without referrals to external centres. Our own radiology service allows an orthopantomogram to be obtained in five minutes during the same visit, reducing the total number of patient journeys.
Splint manufacturing time is seven to ten working days from the date of impression taking.
The clinic has been operating since 2009 in the Eixample district and offers appointments in eight languages. Registration number of the medical facility: E08706004. Telephone: +34 931 167 510 WhatsApp: +34 626 597 693 Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 10:00–19:00, Friday 10:00–15:00
