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Original poster

Angry, shattered brand new £500 dental splint

60 replies

Oucht · 26/05/2025 11:53

I had a years old splint to stop my smashing my teeth while I sleep.

My new dentist made a lovely new one £500. It started to get a bit loose after 5 days so I have an appt in a few weeks.

3 nights later, put it in before bed, pull it out in the morning and it’s shattered, broken right through. How the hell have I done it?

Dentist is gonna be peed off. I’m angry that it’s happened and can’t afford another £500.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 13:32

Above the piece that has come off you can see the crack that goes in 2 directions.

Angry, shattered brand new £500 dental splint
OP posts:
Fyreheart · 26/05/2025 13:19

If it's broken so quickly, then clearly it's not fit for purpose.

Halsall · 26/05/2025 13:18

Not exactly comparable @Oucht but my DH had a hugely-expensive dental bridge that broke after an unacceptably short time. The dentist couldn’t have been more apologetic, went straight back to the lab that made it and had a replacement done, at no cost to DH. Didn’t charge for her time to re-do the work either.

I've had a dental splint myself (v painful dislocated jaw issues in my youth and needed to stop my teeth fully touching so things would re-align) and I had to wear it round the clock for months. The idea of it breaking after so short a time after just having it in at night is 😱

Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 13:17

GreatFinch · 26/05/2025 13:16

Sounds like an sci splint? Made in the lab or by the dentist (chair side)? The lab that makes these, if it's the official lab, are excellent & will want it sent back so they can see what went wrong and how to sort it as it's an unusual occurrence. (Source: I'm a dentist who makes a lot of them, but obviously anyone could claim that so have a chat with your dentist and I'm sure it can be sorted.) My answer for chair side is different, these can be made usually as a temporary measure either because the PT needs it immediately and can't wait for the lab or as a trial to see if this type works for them before having a long-term lab made one made so a fracture is unusual but not entirely unexpected.

It’s a lab made SCI splint.

OP posts:
GreatFinch · 26/05/2025 13:16

Sounds like an sci splint? Made in the lab or by the dentist (chair side)? The lab that makes these, if it's the official lab, are excellent & will want it sent back so they can see what went wrong and how to sort it as it's an unusual occurrence. (Source: I'm a dentist who makes a lot of them, but obviously anyone could claim that so have a chat with your dentist and I'm sure it can be sorted.) My answer for chair side is different, these can be made usually as a temporary measure either because the PT needs it immediately and can't wait for the lab or as a trial to see if this type works for them before having a long-term lab made one made so a fracture is unusual but not entirely unexpected.

Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 13:01

AntiHop · 26/05/2025 11:55

What was it made of? I've used a plastic one for years. I get it replaced every couple of years.

Soft inside and hard acrylic on the outside. £500 and it lasted 9 days but it was so much more comfortable than the horrible old thing I’m using.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 13:00

I haven’t dropped it or anything like that.
It’s the kind where only your front 2 teeth touch the splint to keep the rest of your teeth apart. It’s broken where teeth don’t even touch against it!

Botox isn’t something I’d consider due to nerve conditions.

If I don’t have this splint, I am going to end up crushing my new crown which cost £1k.

I can’t load the credit card up anymore.
Worried he won’t help.

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 26/05/2025 11:57

Have you thought about Botox injections in the masseter (sorry, more expense, I know)?

It sounds like you’ve been unlucky - or that it was poorly made. I’ve used mouth splints for years and yet to break any, though I could grind and clench for 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

AntiHop · 26/05/2025 11:55

What was it made of? I've used a plastic one for years. I get it replaced every couple of years.

BadgersSuitcase · 26/05/2025 11:55

Well I’d argue that it clearly wasn’t fit for purpose if it’s broken so quickly so I’d be looking for a free of charge replacement. You’ve no idea how it’s happened (so, you’ve not stood on it for example) so just say you’re not happy to pay for another one after a matter of days use