The creation of dental splints, particularly night guards, has traditionally been a time-consuming process involving multiple steps and intricate work. However, the advent of digital tools like the Medit Splints app is transforming this landscape, offering dental professionals a streamlined, efficient approach. This guide dives into the comprehensive workflow and critical considerations in splint creation, highlighting the revolutionary impact of the Medit Splints app on dental practices.
For an in-depth tutorial on using the Medit Splints app, watch the full webinar here.
1. Workflow
1.1 Intraoral Scan
Preparation
The foundation of a successful splint begins with a thorough preparation. Ensuring the patient’s mouth is clean and free from any removable appliances is crucial. This initial step sets the stage for an accurate scan, contributing to the splint’s precise fit.
Maxillary Arch Scanning
The scanning process starts with the maxillary arch. It’s essential to cover the occlusal surfaces comprehensively, moving to the palatal and finally the buccal surfaces. Capturing the gingival margin is a critical step that influences the splint’s accuracy.
Mandibular Arch Scanning
Similar to the maxillary arch, the mandibular arch scan begins with the occlusal surfaces, followed by the lingual and buccal surfaces. Precision in this step ensures the splint’s design aligns perfectly with the patient’s dental structure.
Bite Scan
The bite scan is pivotal for aligning the maxillary and mandibular scans accurately. It captures the patient’s bite in its natural closure, laying the groundwork for a splint that fits harmoniously within the oral cavity.
Mandibular Movement Recording
This advanced technique captures the dynamic movement of the jaw, significantly reducing the need for occlusal adjustments. It provides a deeper understanding of the patient’s bite, enhancing the splint’s design accuracy.
1.2 Design – Medit Splints App
The design phase in creating dental splints with the Medit Splints App is a critical step where customization and precision are paramount. This section of the process leverages the seamless integration with Medit scanners, offering a platform where detailed patient data translates into tailored splint designs.
Initiating the Design Process
The journey begins in Medit Link, where a specific case is selected, ensuring that the design process is informed by accurate and comprehensive scan data. This ensures the final splint is perfectly tailored to the patient’s anatomy.
Customization Options
Selection of the arch and splint type (Michigan, Flat Plane, Anterior Bite) allows for customization at the outset, acknowledging the diverse needs of patients.
Design Pathways
The Medit Splints App offers two design pathways: Auto Creation and Manual Creation. Auto Creation leverages AI for efficiency, suitable for straightforward cases. Manual Creation, however, provides an in-depth customization process through several stages:
- Alignment Mode: Aligns the scan data to the virtual occlusal plane for accurate fit.
- Occlusal Adjustment Mode: Adjusts occlusal relationships to ensure the splint aligns with the patient’s bite.
- Inner Surface Creation Mode: Fine-tunes the inner surface for comfort and fit, adjusting parameters like offset and smoothness.
- Outline Designation and Outer Surface Creation Modes: Define the splint’s perimeter and adjust the thickness of its surfaces for optimal functionality and aesthetics.
- Final Adjustments: Include Design Mode for last touches and Labeling Mode for personalization.
Through these steps, the Medit Splints App facilitates a detailed yet streamlined design process. It emphasizes the app’s capability to produce splints that are not only functional but also customized for individual comfort and needs. This approach showcases the advancement of digital tools in dental practice, marrying efficiency with bespoke patient care.
1.3 3D Printing
The transition from digital splint design to physical reality is seamlessly achieved through the 3D printing phase, a testament to modern dentistry’s technological advancements. This stage is crucial, as it brings the meticulously designed splint to life, ready for patient use.
From Design to Physical Form
The process begins with exporting the finalized design from the Medit Splints App, ensuring the model is ready for printing. The splint design, tailored to precise specifications, is then prepared for the 3D printer, typically in STL or OBJ format, marking the transition from virtual to tangible.
Optimizing the Print
Key steps such as angle adjustment and support addition are critical to ensure the splint prints correctly and with the intended strength. The printing angle, particularly, plays a significant role in the quality and accuracy of the final product. Support structures are added to complex geometries, ensuring every detail is captured accurately.
The Printing Process
With the model sliced and ready, the 3D printer brings the design to life. This phase is where the magic happens, transforming digital data into a physical splint through precise layering of dental-grade materials. Monitoring the initial layers for proper adhesion is vital, ensuring a flawless start to the print job.
Post-Printing Refinement
After printing, the splint undergoes a series of post-processing steps, including support removal and surface smoothing. These steps are crucial for achieving the desired finish and ensuring the splint meets clinical standards for fit and comfort. For some materials, post-curing under UV light or heat is necessary, enhancing the splint’s durability and finish.
Through the 3D printing phase, the integration of digital design and advanced manufacturing brings about a revolution in splint production. This process not only accelerates the creation of dental splints but also enhances their precision and customization, reflecting the profound impact of technology on dental care.
2. Considerations
2.1 Retention
Insertion Path and Margin Line
Optimizing the insertion path and margin line is essential for retention and patient comfort. The precise alignment and distribution of undercuts ensure the splint’s stability without compromising ease of use.
Inner Surface Parameter
Adjusting the inner surface parameters, including the offset and smoothness, plays a vital role in the splint’s fit. These adjustments are key to balancing retention with patient comfort, allowing for a splint that’s secure yet easy to wear.
2.2 Appropriate Thickness
Determining the right thickness of the splint is a balancing act between durability and comfort. A thickness of 1.5 to 2 millimeters is typically ideal, ensuring the splint’s effectiveness without causing discomfort to the patient.
2.3 Printing Angle
The angle at which the splint is printed affects both its quality and accuracy. Experimentation with different angles has shown that a zero-degree angle often yields the best results, offering superior detail and fit.
2.4 Transparent and Glossy Surface Finish
Achieving a transparent and glossy finish involves careful post-processing, including polishing and applying clear coatings. These steps enhance the splint’s aesthetic appeal while maintaining its functional integrity.
In a detailed Q&A session, Doctor Kim addresses key points to further reduce chair time, the ease of use of the Medit Splints app, the importance of airway consideration in splint design, and effective TMD diagnosis. His insights underscore the comprehensive nature of the Medit Splints app, distinguishing it as an invaluable tool for modern dental practices.
The integration of the Medit Splints app into dental workflows signifies a leap towards enhanced efficiency and patient satisfaction. By simplifying the splint creation process, it allows dental professionals to allocate more time to patient care, elevating the standard of dental practice.
Embrace the future of dentistry with Medit Splints app, where efficiency meets excellence.
