Teeth Splinting in Vilnius: Strengthening and Preserving Mobile Teeth

Teeth splinting is a dental procedure aimed at strengthening mobile teeth by joining them into a single block using special constructions. In our clinic, splinting is performed using modern materials and technologies, which allows effectively stabilizing the dental arch, stopping the progression of periodontal diseases and preserving the patient's own teeth. Our specialists have extensive experience in performing various types of splinting and individually select the optimal method for each case.

We understand that tooth mobility causes serious concern in patients and reduces quality of life, making chewing difficult and affecting smile aesthetics. In our dentistry, splinting helps restore stability to the dental arch, prevent further loosening and loss of teeth, restore normal chewing function and self-confidence.

Indications for Teeth Splinting

In our clinic, we recommend teeth splinting for various conditions and diseases. The main indication is moderate and severe periodontitis, when destruction of the tooth's ligament apparatus occurs, bone tissue loss, formation of periodontal pockets. As a result, teeth lose stability, begin to loosen, shift, fan-shaped divergence. Our specialists use splinting to stabilize mobile teeth and prevent their loss.

We perform splinting after maxillofacial trauma, when tooth dislocation or subluxation occurred, alveolar process fracture. The splint fixes damaged teeth in the correct position for the healing period. Also in our dentistry, splinting is used after orthodontic treatment to consolidate the achieved result and prevent recurrence – return of teeth to the initial incorrect position. Splinting is indicated in bruxism to protect teeth from excessive load and wear.

Types of Splinting

In our clinic, various types of splinting are used depending on the clinical situation and treatment goals. We use temporary splinting, which is installed for a period from several weeks to several months – for example, for the healing time of tissues after trauma or surgical intervention, for the period of anti-inflammatory treatment of periodontitis. Temporary splints are easily removed after performing their function.

Permanent splinting in our dentistry is used for chronic periodontal diseases, when long-term stabilization of the dental arch for years is necessary. Our specialists use removable and non-removable structures. Removable splints can be independently removed by the patient for hygiene, they are used with significant tooth loss and the need for their prosthetics. Non-removable splints are fixed permanently, provide reliable stabilization, do not interfere with diction and aesthetics.

Fiberglass Splinting

In our clinic, splinting using fiberglass ribbon is most often used – this is a modern, effective and aesthetic method. Our specialists create a small groove about 0.5 mm deep on the inner surface of teeth, into which fiberglass ribbon is laid. The ribbon unites several teeth (usually from 4 to 6) into a single block, redistributing chewing load and providing stabilization of mobile teeth.

After laying the ribbon in our dentistry, the groove is filled with light-cured composite material, which reliably fixes the structure. We carefully model the surface, grind and polish, achieving smoothness and natural appearance. The fiberglass splint is almost invisible, does not interfere with diction, does not injure soft tissues. Our patients quickly adapt to the structure. The method is minimally invasive, does not require significant tooth preparation.

Stages of Fiberglass Splinting

The fiberglass splinting procedure in our clinic is performed in one visit and takes 1-2 hours depending on the number of teeth. Our specialists begin with professional oral hygiene – removal of dental deposits, plaque. This is necessary for quality adhesion of materials and inflammation prevention. Then local anesthesia is performed to ensure patient comfort during preparation.

We isolate the working area with a rubber dam, select the color of composite material according to the shade of the patient's teeth. Our doctors using a bur create a horizontal groove on the inner surface of teeth to be splinted. The groove should have sufficient depth to place the ribbon, but not violate tooth strength. Fiberglass ribbon of the required length is measured and cut, laid in the groove with slight tension.

Completion of Splinting Procedure

After laying the fiberglass ribbon in our dentistry, its fixation with composite material is performed. Our specialists apply light-cured composite in layers, carefully filling the groove and covering the ribbon. Each layer is polymerized under a special lamp. We restore the anatomical shape of the inner surface of teeth, ensure smooth transitions between teeth.

Then our doctors perform final processing – grinding and polishing of the splint. We use special burs, discs, polishing pastes to achieve perfect surface smoothness. A smooth surface prevents plaque accumulation, ensures tongue comfort. Occlusion is checked – the splint should not interfere with tooth closure. In our clinic, we teach the patient hygiene features after splinting and schedule a control examination.

Splinting with Crowns and Bridges

With significant tooth mobility and their partial loss, in our clinic splinting using crowns or bridges soldered together may be used. Our specialists prepare teeth to be splinted for crowns, take impressions, manufacture a single structure in the laboratory uniting several teeth. Such a splint provides maximum reliable stabilization and simultaneously restores aesthetics and function.

This method in our dentistry is used when significant restoration of the crown part of teeth is necessary, when they are severely destroyed by caries or have extensive old fillings. We use metal-ceramic or all-ceramic crowns that have high strength and excellent aesthetic properties. Our technicians create structures taking into account individual features of the patient's bite, ensuring proper distribution of chewing load.

Removable Splinting Structures

In our clinic, with significant tooth loss and pronounced mobility of remaining teeth, removable splinting prostheses may be used. These structures combine the functions of splinting mobile teeth and prosthetics of missing ones. Our specialists manufacture clasp dentures with splinting elements – special clasps, claw-like processes, multi-link clasps that embrace teeth and fix them in the correct position.

A clasp splinting prosthesis in our dentistry has a metal framework providing strength and proper load distribution. The patient can remove the prosthesis for hygiene, which facilitates care. We carefully plan the structure taking into account the condition of teeth and gums, direction of their mobility. Our technicians manufacture prostheses individually according to impressions, ensuring precise fit and wearing comfort.

Advantages of Splinting

Teeth splinting in our clinic has many advantages for patients with periodontal diseases and mobile teeth. The main advantage is dental arch stabilization, prevention of further loosening and tooth loss. Our specialists unite mobile teeth into a single block, which significantly increases their stability. Chewing load is evenly distributed among all teeth, traumatic impact on periodontium is reduced.

Splinting in our dentistry stops periodontitis progression, prevents further bone tissue loss. Stable teeth less injure surrounding tissues during chewing, favorable conditions for healing and regeneration are created. Normal chewing function is restored, the patient can eat fully. Smile aesthetics improves, especially when splinting front teeth with fiberglass – the structure is almost invisible. Quality of life and self-confidence increase.

Care for Splinted Teeth

After splinting in our clinic, we give patients detailed recommendations for oral care. Especially thorough hygiene is necessary – brushing teeth at least twice a day with a quality medium-hard toothbrush and paste. Our specialists recommend using dental floss or irrigator for cleaning interdental spaces, but doing this carefully so as not to damage the splint.

It is important to avoid excessive loads on splinted teeth – do not bite hard food, nuts, ice, do not open bottles and packages with teeth. In our dentistry, we recommend patients with bruxism use night guards to protect teeth and splint from overload. Regular visits to our clinic every 3-6 months are mandatory for control examinations, professional teeth cleaning, splint condition assessment and if necessary its correction or repair.

Periodontitis Treatment Before Splinting

In our clinic, splinting is performed only after comprehensive periodontitis treatment. Our specialists begin with professional oral hygiene – removal of supra- and subgingival dental deposits by ultrasound and Air Flow method. This eliminates the main cause of inflammation – bacterial plaque and tartar. We perform anti-inflammatory therapy – irrigation of periodontal pockets with antiseptics, applications of medicinal gels.

In the presence of deep periodontal pockets in our dentistry, curettage is performed – scraping of granulations and subgingival deposits from pockets. Surgical treatment may be required – flap operations to provide access to tooth roots and bone pockets. Our doctors perform splinting only after acute inflammation subsides, when gums stop bleeding, swelling and hyperemia decrease. Splinting against active inflammation is ineffective and can lead to disease progression.

Service Life and Replacement of Splints

The service life of splints that we install in our clinic depends on the type of structure, condition of teeth and periodontium, quality of hygiene. Fiberglass splints with proper care can serve 3-5 years or more. Our specialists regularly monitor splint condition, and when defects appear – composite chips, ribbon exposure, fixation violation – we perform repair or structure replacement.

Crown and bridge splints in our dentistry are more durable – they serve 10-15 years with compliance with operating rules. Removable clasp prostheses require periodic correction as gums and teeth condition changes, their service life is 5-7 years. Our doctors recommend not waiting for complete wear of the structure, but timely replacing it to prevent complications. We monitor periodontium condition dynamics and if necessary correct the treatment plan.

Contraindications to Splinting

Despite the method's effectiveness, there are situations when splinting in our clinic is temporarily contraindicated or inappropriate. We do not perform splinting in acute inflammatory process in the oral cavity – periodontitis exacerbation with pronounced swelling, suppuration, abscesses. First our specialists relieve acute inflammation, perform anti-inflammatory treatment, and only after process subsides install splint.

Splinting is contraindicated with poor oral hygiene, when the patient cannot or does not want to maintain cleanliness. The splint under such conditions will contribute to plaque accumulation and disease progression. Our doctors first teach the patient proper hygiene, motivate, and only when satisfactory hygiene level is achieved perform splinting. Also in our dentistry, splinting is inappropriate with critical third-fourth degree tooth mobility, when extraction is indicated – the splint cannot stabilize such teeth.

Alternatives to Splinting

In our clinic, when splinting is impossible or inappropriate, we offer patients alternative treatment methods. In initial stages of periodontitis, when tooth mobility is still insignificant, our specialists perform comprehensive conservative treatment – professional teeth cleaning, anti-inflammatory therapy, physiotherapy. Proper treatment can stop disease progression without splinting necessity.

With significant tooth loss and pronounced mobility of remaining teeth, in our dentistry extraction of hopeless teeth and implant prosthetics may be recommended. Implants provide reliable support for prostheses, do not require involvement of mobile teeth. Our doctors carefully assess teeth and periodontium condition, discuss with the patient all possible treatment options and together choose the optimal solution taking into account clinical situation, wishes and patient's financial capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it painful to install a splint on teeth?

The splinting procedure in our clinic is comfortable and painless. We necessarily use local anesthesia before creating a groove on teeth for fiberglass ribbon. Modern anesthetics ensure complete absence of painful sensations during the procedure. After anesthesia wears off, slight tooth sensitivity is possible, which quickly passes. When installing crown splints, tooth preparation is also performed under anesthesia. Our specialists do everything possible for maximum patient comfort.

Can fiberglass splint be removed?

The fiberglass splint that we install in our clinic is a non-removable structure intended for permanent wearing. However, if necessary, our specialists can remove the splint – remove composite material using a bur, extract fiberglass ribbon. This may be required when treating caries on splinted teeth, replacing worn splint with new one, changing treatment plan. After splint removal, we restore tooth surface, if necessary install new structure.

Does splint interfere with chewing and speech?

The fiberglass splint that we install in our clinic on the inner surface of teeth is practically not felt by patients and does not affect diction. Our specialists carefully model the structure, ensuring smooth transitions and smooth surface. Adaptation period is minimal – most patients get used to the splint within a few hours. The splint does not interfere with chewing, on the contrary, stabilizes teeth and makes food intake process more comfortable. Removable splinting prostheses require longer adaptation, but our doctors select structure individually to minimize discomfort.

Is it necessary to wear splint constantly?

Fiberglass and crown splints that we install in our clinic are non-removable structures – it is impossible and unnecessary to remove them, they are on teeth permanently. This ensures continuous dental arch stabilization. Removable clasp splinting prostheses our specialists recommend wearing practically constantly, removing only for hygienic procedures. The longer the patient wears the splint, the better the stabilization effect. With periodontal diseases, splinting usually requires long-term or lifelong to prevent tooth mobility recurrence.