Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
General Dentistry · Jaw & Sleep
Bruxism, the clenching and grinding of teeth, mostly at night, is one of the most destructive quiet habits in dentistry: it cracks teeth, wears enamel flat, exhausts jaw muscles and inflames the jaw joint (TMJ). Splint therapy protects the teeth and calms the system, and at Sydney Holistic Dental Centre it comes with a rule: we assess why you grind, including your airway and sleep, before we prescribe what you wear, because a splint is a course of treatment, not a product.
Image of TMJ / Splint Therapy
Waking with a tight, tired or aching jaw; temple headaches in the morning
Teeth that look shorter, flatter or chipped at the edges; fillings that keep fracturing
Sensitivity across many teeth rather than one
Clicking, popping or locking of the jaw; pain or fullness near the ear
A partner who hears grinding at night
Scalloped tongue edges and cheek ridges (the mouth's pressure marks)
Neck and shoulder tension that physiotherapy keeps treating without lasting change
Grinding is a symptom with several possible engines. Sleep-disordered breathing is a major one: a narrowing night-time airway triggers jaw activity as the body defends its breathing, which is why we screen every significant grinder for snoring and sleep quality. Stress is real and shows up in the jaw at night with remarkable reliability. Bite mechanics, missing teeth and joint problems concentrate forces.
The engine determines the treatment: an airway-driven grinder who receives only a plastic guard will grind straight through it, comfortably protected and completely untreated.
The temporomandibular joint is the most used joint in the body, and dysfunction (TMD) shows up as clicking, locking, restricted opening, ear-area pain and headache. Assessment covers joint sounds and movement range, muscle palpation, tooth wear as the overnight record, bite contacts, and the airway screen.
Most TMD responds well to conservative care: splint therapy, muscle and posture work with our allied network of physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths, habit changes and time. Surgery is a last resort we refer for rarely, and say so honestly.
Diagnosis determines the tier
Tier
What It Is
Best For
Occlusal splint
A custom-fitted rigid night guard that protects tooth surfaces, distributes forces evenly and decompresses the joint.
Established grinders needing protection and muscle relief; the workhorse of splint therapy.
SOMA / repositioning appliances
Appliances designed to influence jaw posture and muscle balance rather than only shield the teeth.
Selected TMD presentations where jaw position is part of the problem, prescribed after joint assessment.
Mandibular advancement appliance
A sleep appliance that holds the lower jaw forward, managing the night-time airway and, with it, airway-driven grinding.
Grinders whose assessment and physician diagnosis reveal snoring or sleep apnoea behind the bruxism.
Which tier you need is a diagnostic decision, and sometimes the answer changes over time; a splint that is failing to slow the damage is information, not failure, and it usually points up the ladder toward the airway.
"When a patient brings me a bag of chewed-through night guards, the guards were never the problem. Something is driving that jaw all night, and finding it is the actual treatment. Protecting the teeth while we do is simply good manners."
DR YIN YIN TEOH — PRINCIPAL DENTIST
Image of
Yin Yin
1
Assessment
Joints, muscles, wear, bite, airway and sleep screen; imaging where the joint itself needs a look.
2
Diagnosis and plan in writing
Which driver, which splint tier, what else (physio referral, sleep pathway, stress management honestly named).
3
Custom fabrication
Digital impressions; fitting and adjustment for comfort and correct contacts.
4
Review
Wear patterns on the splint become the new overnight record, telling us whether the driver is being treated or just absorbed.
5
Repairs to the damage
Once the cause is controlled: cracked and worn teeth restored with ceramic where needed, in the right order, which is cause first, repairs second.
Can I just buy a night guard online?
A boil-and-bite guard fits loosely, positions the jaw by accident and can worsen some TMD presentations. A custom splint is made to a diagnosis. The price difference is real; so is the difference in what you are buying.
How long until my jaw pain improves?
Muscle-driven pain often eases within a few weeks of consistent splint wear and habit changes; joint-related symptoms move more slowly. We set expectations at diagnosis and track against them.
Will a splint stop me grinding?
It protects teeth and calms muscles; whether the grinding itself reduces depends on the driver. Airway-driven bruxism responds when the airway is treated, which is exactly why the assessment includes it.
Do you treat jaw clicking that doesn't hurt?
Painless clicking is common and often needs monitoring rather than treatment. Locking, pain or restricted opening are different: assess promptly.
Is TMJ treatment covered by health funds?
Splints typically attract rebates under major dental depending on cover; quotes with item numbers are provided in writing.
Book an assessment. We find the driver, then prescribe the right tier.
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Yin Yin
Dr Yin Yin Teoh
Principal Dentist — Sydney Holistic Dental Centre
This page is written by a registered dental practitioner. Content is for general information only and does not constitute dental advice. For personal dental concerns, please book a consultation.
