Tooth splinting joins a group of teeth into one solid block so that the chewing load is distributed evenly and the teeth do not become loose and fall out.
Tooth splinting is indicated for pathological tooth mobility, which is a common sign of periodontitis. Before we talk about splinting, let’s find out why pathological tooth mobility occurs in the first place.
Not everyone knows this, but a tooth absorbs pressure thanks to the periodontal ligament that connects it to the bone. This cushioning is called physiological tooth mobility, and it is almost invisible to the eye. When periodontitis develops, the bone tissue is damaged. The tooth loses its support and is held only by soft tissue, so even slight pressure makes it move, and it may even fall out. Periodontitis is a generalized disease, meaning it does not affect just one or two teeth. It involves segments of teeth or the entire upper and lower jaw. Single teeth can also become loose due to an inflammatory process called apical periodontitis. An inflammatory focus develops at the tip of the tooth root and may spread around the whole tooth. As a result, all the bone around that tooth is destroyed and the tooth starts to loosen. This rarely happens, because as the condition develops, painful symptoms appear and the patient has to see a doctor.
Goals of splinting:
During splinting, loose teeth are joined to less mobile or completely healthy teeth. As a result, as mentioned above, the chewing load is distributed evenly across this block. With this method, the “lifespan” of loose teeth is doubled.
In simple cases, special metal wire, fiberglass threads or ribbon are used for splinting, and in more severe cases, removable or fixed splinting prostheses.
Wearing any splinting structure makes hygiene harder, so professional oral hygiene is essential once every 2-3 months. Otherwise, periodontitis may be provoked and tooth mobility may get worse.
