Design and 3D Printing of a Personalized Occlusal Splint Used in Bruxism

Bruxism is an increasingly common dysfunction of the stomatognathic system associated with excessive clenching and grinding of the teeth. Until recently, the problem of bruxism was considered only as a dental aspect: malocclusion, incorrectly fitted dentures, etc. However, the main factors contributing to the occurrence of bruxism episodes are increased susceptibility to stress, emotional disturbances, time pressure or disorders occurring in the temporomandibular joint. Its occurrence negatively affects the condition of the teeth, but also leads to headaches or reduced mobility of the spine. Once bruxism has been correctly diagnosed, various treatment methods are applied, but the basic one is the use of occlusal splints. Their role is to protect the teeth, reduce pain and reduce muscle tension in the stomatognathic system. This article presents the different types of occlusal splints and describes how they are manufactured. The fabrication of an occlusal splint involving laser scanning of the patient’s maxillary and mandibular model, the design of the overlay prototype in dedicated software and the selection of the model material for DLP printing are described. The realization of the design, considering different thicknesses and printing variants, allowed the selection of the optimal variant of the occlusal splint prototype in terms of durability, aesthetics, as well as comfort for the patient struggling with bruxism.