Dental Splint: The Complete Guide Written by an Orthodontist

Dental splints address five different needs: protecting enamel in cases of bruxism, stabilizing achieved alignment, correcting minor crowding with clear aligners, relieving TMJ, and clearing airways for light snorers. Their cost ranges from €150 for a rigid occlusal splint to €5,000 for a complete invisible alignment treatment. Therapeutic devices (occlusal, Michigan, mandibular advancement splints) may be reimbursed based on a reference rate set at €172.80 after prior approval; adult orthodontics remains outside the official coverage list. When chosen correctly, a dental splint prevents tooth wear, alleviates jaw pain, and improves aesthetics without surgery. For retention splints, eZtain PEEK retention wires are increasingly favored as a replacement for lifelong retention splints.

Why Wear a Dental Splint?

Dental splints form a custom-made shield that limits tooth wear, keeps your teeth straight, and relaxes your jaw for daily comfort.

The dental splint primarily acts as a shock absorber: positioned between the dental arches, it helps to evenly distribute pressure when you clench your teeth, preventing pain or wear.

To understand its role, one must imagine the jaw as a lever system. The teeth are the contact points, and the muscles sometimes exert excessive pressure. The splint interposes itself between the two arches: it absorbs part of the forces, distributes them evenly, and prevents traumatic contacts. The result: less stress on the teeth, muscles, and joint.

For individuals who grind their teeth at night (suffering from bruxism), a rigid splint reduces enamel wear by nearly 70% in one year. In other cases, particularly after orthodontic treatment, it keeps teeth securely in place while the jaw stabilizes. For jaw pain (TMJ disorders), a Michigan-type splint helps muscles relax, relieving tension and headaches.

To straighten teeth, specifically for dental treatments using aligners, clear aligners go further: each aligner gradually moves the teeth, without braces or metal wires, to discreetly correct minor crowding. This is notably what Invisalign & Dr. Smile achieve through their treatments.

In summary, splints:

• Stop nocturnal wear; morning migraines reduced by five-fold.
  
• Reduces post-orthodontic relapse from 37% to 6%, avoiding the need for further orthodontic treatment.
  
• Relieves 70% of joint pain within three months.
  
• Discreetly aligns teeth in adults, with easier hygiene.
  

Key takeaway: A dental splint is a custom medical device designed to protect, stabilize, or correct. Depending on its type, it can limit wear related to bruxism, maintain alignment after orthodontic treatment, slightly move teeth, relieve jaw pain, or improve nocturnal breathing. Its effectiveness always depends on an accurate diagnosis, regular wear, and follow-up by a healthcare professional.

What is the Price of a Dental Splint?

Depending on whether it is a simple occlusal splint or a complete aligner treatment, the price ranges from €150 to €5,000, excluding mutual insurance reimbursement.

A rigid therapeutic dental splint costs an average of €200; the social security reimbursement base is set at €172.80. A post-orthodontic retention splint, on the other hand, costs between €150 and €300 when not included in the package or after the first year of reimbursement. The clear aligner protocol – with its digital plan, 20 to 35 aligners, and quarterly check-ups – generally requires between €2,500 and €5,000. Finally, an anti-snoring mandibular advancement device ranges from €600 to €1,200 per unit, partially covered if an apnea syndrome is diagnosed.

Price differences are explained by the level of customization and follow-up. A simple occlusal splint requires an impression and a few adjustments, whereas an aligner treatment includes a detailed digital plan, several dozen successive aligners, and regular check-ups over several months. The more active and long-term the supervision required for the device, the higher the overall cost.

Dental Splint Category	Purpose	Average Price	Reimbursement
Protective Splint	Bruxism, Tooth Wear	€150 to €300	Yes, Partial Possible
Therapeutic Splint	Jaw Pain (TMJ)	€180 to €350	Yes, After Approval
Retention Splint	Maintain Straight Teeth	€150 to €300	No
Clear Aligners	Straighten Teeth	€2,500 to €5,000	No
Anti-Snoring Splint	Snoring, Mild Apnea	€600 to €1,200	Yes, Under Conditions

What is the Price of a Dental Splint for Adults?

For an adult, expect around €200 for a custom-made night guard and €2,500 to €5,000 to realign teeth with invisible aligners.

Reimbursement Details:

• Rigid Splint: Partially reimbursed if the dentist submits a request to Social Security; mutual insurance may cover the remainder.
  
• Aligners: A quote is always provided; payment can often be spread over several months.
  
• Retention Splint: Costs approximately €250; to be replaced if it breaks or wears out over time.
  
• Anti-Snoring Device: Reimbursed if a test confirms more than 5 apneas per hour.
  

What are the Disadvantages of a Dental Splint?

The main risks of a dental splint are the gradual cessation of wear — common after a few weeks — which reduces its effectiveness, and the cumulative long-term cost associated with replacements.

Wearing a dental splint requires regularity and diligence, without which its benefits quickly disappear. For example, a clear aligner must be worn 22 hours a day to effectively move teeth. Below this threshold, the treatment slows down, or even regresses. The same applies to an occlusal splint or a relaxation splint: if removed too early at night or forgotten for several days, TMJ pain, bruxism, or mandibular tensions return.

The initial period can be uncomfortable: excessive salivation, slight speech impediment, or even frequent waking during the first two nights. These effects are temporary (48 hours to one week) but require an adaptation period.

Regarding hygiene, maintenance is non-negotiable:

• Brushing morning and evening with a mild soap,
  
• Weekly soaking in a disinfectant solution,
  
• Ventilated case away from heat or humidity.
  

Without this, the splint retains bacteria, tartar accumulates, the odor becomes unpleasant, and the gums can become inflamed.

Finally, the long-term cost can become a hindrance: a severe bruxer wears out their splint in 6 to 12 months, necessitating regular replacement. And for retention splints, a premature cessation (after orthodontics) promotes relapse: teeth, still mobile, shift again within a few weeks if retention is not maintained. Many patients stop too early — due to forgetfulness or comfort — and lose part of the achieved result. eZtain PEEK retention wires are now favored over retention splints, offering better comfort and preventing forgetfulness and thus relapses.

Key Disadvantages of Dental Splints

• Transient Discomfort: Salivation, slight difficulty speaking.
  
• Strict Hygiene: Dedicated brush + weekly soaking.
  
• Risk of Loss or Breakage: Costly replacement (~€250).
  
• Commercial Soft Splint: Exacerbates bruxism, not recommended.
  

Are clear retainers reimbursed by Social Security?

Yes for therapeutic splints (bruxism, TMJ) after prior approval; no for adult aligners and retention splints.

A rigid occlusal splint or a Michigan splint coded JPPB001 benefits from a reimbursement base set at €172.80. The dental surgeon submits a prior agreement request; the CPAM responds within fifteen days. The remaining out-of-pocket cost will depend on excess fees and mutual insurance coverage. Conversely, adult orthodontics with invisible aligners, as well as whitening splints, are not part of the official nomenclature: Social Security does not intervene, and only “enhanced dental coverage” plans can provide an additional package.

Does the Dental Splint Align Teeth?

Yes and no; only clear aligners, worn 22 hours a day, actually move teeth in a controlled and predictable manner.

Each aligner is a numbered dental splint; the 3D software programs 0.25 mm of movement per step. The succession of 20 to 35 aligners guides the arch from the initial to the target position, under the orthodontist’s supervision. Occlusal protection splints or retention splints, however, are purely passive: they immobilize or protect but exert no orthodontic force. Without a minimum wear of 22 hours, the tooth no longer follows the digital plan, necessitating reprinting a series and increasing the bill.

Many patients confuse protective splints and orthodontic aligners. Not all splints move teeth: only those integrated into a controlled orthodontic protocol exert an active and measured force.

Can a Dental Splint Straighten Teeth?

Yes, provided it is part of an orthodontic protocol using successive aligners supervised by an occlusion specialist.

In cases of minor crowding (≤ 4 mm), clear aligners allow for complete realignment within six to twelve months. They apply light forces, preserve enamel and gums, and remain almost invisible in the office. After active treatment, an eZtain retention wire or a nighttime retention splint secures the long-term result.

A splint purchased at a pharmacy will not straighten teeth.

What is the Best Splint for Relieving Jaw Pain?

The custom-fitted flat rigid occlusal splint relaxes the TMJ and reduces muscle pain within a few nights.

TMJ pain often results from an occlusal imbalance: premature contacts, muscle tension, mandibular micro-deviations. The Michigan splint offers a perfectly flat occlusal plane; it frees the mandible from any parasitic guidance, reduces the activity of the masseter and temporal muscles, and drops the VAS (pain) score by 4 points in three weeks.
Unlike soft mouthguards sold in pharmacies, it is cast in rigid acrylic resin (ISO 10993); the dentist balances contacts at D + 15, then every three months to compensate for wear. In 70% of patients, clicking and migraines disappear before the end of the first quarter.

Key Points

• Flat Occlusal Plane: Deprograms neuromuscular patterns.
  
• Target Thickness: 2.0–2.5 mm at the molars to absorb the load.
  
• Regular Adjustments: Selective grinding, opening control.
  
• Contraindicated if active condylar arthritis or unstabilized fracture.
  

Which Type of Splint for Which Profile?

Profile	Typical Age	Daily Concern	Ideal Splint	Quick Benefit
Child	11-15 years	Teeth at Risk of Shifting After Braces	Nighttime Retention Splint	Stabilizes Alignment During Bone Consolidation
Young Adult	18-25 years	Two Overlapping Incisors	Clear Aligners	Invisible Straightening in 6–9 Months
Adult	30-45 years	Clicking, Limited Opening	Michigan Splint	+10 mm Opening, Pain Halved in 1 Month
Adult “Nocturnal Teeth Clencher”	30-55 years	Severe Bruxism, Enamel Wear	Rigid Occlusal Splint	Protector, Wear Stopped, Migraines -80%
Adult “Light Snorer”	35-60 years	Snoring and Micro-Apneas	Mandibular Advancement Device	Snoring Stopped, Deeper Sleep
Adult “Fragile Enamel”	25-40 years	Hypersensitivity to Cold	Thin Protective Splint	Shield + Fluoride Gel: Sensitivity -70% in 2 Weeks.

Types of Dental Splints

Type	Indication	Wear	Typical Duration	Price Range
Clear Aligner	Minor Crowding, Diastemas	22 hours/day	6–18 Months	€2,500–€5,000
Retention Splint	Post-Orthodontics	Nighttime	Years (Decreasing)	€150–€300
Rigid Occlusal Splint	Severe Bruxism	Nighttime	6–12 Months Before Remanufacture	€150–€300
Michigan Splint	TMJ Pain	Nighttime (Sometimes 24 Hours)	3–6 Months of Adjustments	€180–€350
Mandibular Advancement Device	Snorer / Mild Apnea	Nighttime	≥ 12 Months	€600–€1,200
Whitening Splint	Aesthetics	2–6 hours/day	10–14 Days	€200–€400

Each model is thermoformed from an impression or 3D scan, using medical resin or polyurethane, then polished to prevent any irritation.

Manufacturing & Materials

The dental splint is now created using a 100% digital workflow: after a 3D scan (Trios®, iTero®, or Medit®), the practitioner obtains a precise virtual model accurate to ± 20 µm. The file is sent to the laboratory, which prints a photopolymerizable resin mold, then thermoforms a medical polyurethane or acrylic resin plate onto it (CE and ISO 10993 standards). The shell is then hand-polished; each edge is rounded to protect the mucosa. Before delivery, the technician checks the occlusion on an articulated simulator; only uniform contacts on the occlusal splint guarantee correct force distribution.

Key Points

• Bisphenol A-Free Polymer, Resin Batch Traceability.
  
• 4-Bar Thermo Pressure, Controlled Cooling to Prevent Micro-Cracks.
  
• Biocompatibility Certificate Attached to Patient File.
  

Patient Journey & Maintenance

From the first appointment to follow-up, management follows three main stages. First, the diagnosis: targeted interview (grinding? snoring? TMJ pain?), palpation of masticatory muscles, and occlusion recording. Next, the fitting: trial, contact adjustment, hygiene explanations. Finally, the check-up: mandatory visit at D + 15, then every three months to adjust or replace the appliance.

Cleaning the retainer requires a simple routine: rinse with lukewarm water after each removal, brush with mild soap morning and evening, and an antiseptic effervescent soak once a week. At the slightest crack or deformation, a new impression must be taken; a worn rigid retainer loses its shock-absorbing properties and must be replaced.

A poorly worn or poorly maintained retainer is not only ineffective; it can disrupt occlusion and worsen initial symptoms.

Maintenance Checklist

• Dedicated soft brush; no abrasive toothpaste.
  
• Water < 50 °C; alcohol and dishwasher use prohibited.
  
• Ventilated case out of reach of a chewing dog.
  

Medical Indications & Benefits

A properly indicated dental retainer addresses three major functional problems:

1. Bruxism → abrasion reduced by two-thirds and morning migraines reduced by 80%.
   
2. TMJ pain → 4-point decrease in VAS score over 3 months with a Michigan splint.
   
3. Minor crowding → complete alignment in less than a year via clear aligners.
   

Studies (J Prosthodont 2023, Angle Orthod 2022) confirm 96% aesthetic satisfaction for invisible aligners and 70% success in joint pain. In prevention, the rigid retainer protects the enamel from chemo-mechanical wear and acts as a fluoride carrier during dentinal sensitivities.

Quantified Benefits

Indication	Measured Improvement	Reference
Severe Bruxism	Molar wear − 68% over 12 months	INJS 2024
TMJ Pain	VAS − 4 /10 in 90 days	J Prosthodont 2023
Minor Alignment	Satisfaction 9.6 /10	Angle Orthod 2022
Post-orthodontic relapse	Without retention 37%; with 6%	BJDO 2021

Risks & Contraindications

Poorly fitted or poorly maintained, a retainer can create as many problems as it solves: gingival irritation, bacterial proliferation, or even tooth displacement if a soft, over-the-counter mouthguard is worn. Absolute contraindications remain rare — known methacrylate allergy, occlusion not stabilized by active periodontal disease, recent condylar fracture — but must be screened for during the assessment.

Warning Points

• Soft retainer → risk of increasing bruxism forces.
  
• Failure to wear → loss of alignment, aligner no longer fits.
  
• Poor hygiene → appearance of white spots or palatal candidiasis.
  

Conclusion: Dental Retainer or Retainer Wire?

The dental retainer protects the enamel, relaxes the TMJ, and aligns teeth when referring to clear aligners. However, it remains a removable device: if forgotten, occlusion can shift again or bruxism can resume. To secure a freshly straightened smile long-term, the most reliable fixed solution remains the bonded retainer wire on the lingual surface. Invisible, it works 24/7 without depending on patient motivation.
The winning approach therefore combines:

1. a rigid retainer for the first few months to absorb pressure and guide consolidation;
   
2. an eZtain retainer wire, machined from biocompatible PEEK, to ensure definitive stability without hindering oral hygiene.
   By combining passive mechanics and active protection, the safest combination against orthodontic relapse and future wear is achieved.

The retainer is a tool; stability depends on the right device, proper follow-up, and, long-term, on reliable retention like the eZtain retainer wire.

About the Author :

Dr. Nicolas Philippides is an orthodontist, a graduate of the University of Strasbourg, holding a CES in dentofacial orthopedics. With several years of clinical practice, he has guided hundreds of patients through their orthodontic treatment, with a constant commitment to long-term stability and comfort. Faced with the limitations of conventional retainers, he decided in 2022 to found eZtain Lab: a project born from a simple yet recurring clinical observation — too many relapses due to ill-fitting or overly fragile wires. In collaboration with INSA, he developed a new generation of PEEK retainer wires, custom-made, comfortable, and durable. Today, his research and experience fuel a single ambition: to offer reliable devices, designed to last, and adapted to the demands of modern orthodontics.

Article published on December 15, 2025 – last updated on December 15, 2025.