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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:
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

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.

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 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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:
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:
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 13:17

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:
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 😱

Fyreheart · 26/05/2025 13:19

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

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:
Washinglinewench29 · 26/05/2025 13:42

Definitely go back to dentist, definitely not fit for purpose xx

Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 13:52

Got an appointment in 2 weeks… made it after 5 days because the splint was getting loose.

Don’t know if it being loose on that side was part of the problem?

Urgh, he’s gonna think I’m an adiot for managing to break something and not having a clue how I’ve done it!!

OP posts:
SnoopDougyDoug · 26/05/2025 13:58

Oucht · 26/05/2025 13:52

Got an appointment in 2 weeks… made it after 5 days because the splint was getting loose.

Don’t know if it being loose on that side was part of the problem?

Urgh, he’s gonna think I’m an adiot for managing to break something and not having a clue how I’ve done it!!

Surely he should be curious as to how it could have broken so easily, and apologetic that you now have to wait for another one? You were using it as directed and it broke, in your mouth by the sound of it. You could have been hurt. Why on earth aren't you cross that an expensive piece of equipment was made so shoddily? Why are you worrying about the dentist being angry with you - you should be the cross one!

Flossflower · 26/05/2025 14:02

i would expect it to replaced for free. My dentist always tells me my dental work is guaranteed for a year. Maybe the the materials were defective.

Pennyssmartwatch · 26/05/2025 14:03

It could well be your dentist's fault. I broke my first 2 splints on the first night. The dentist didn't fit them properly. I got sent to a dental hospital who made me one and spent AGES fitting it and it was fine. I could do with a new one now because it's been 20 years and I've chewed through a bit of it.

Also the dental hospital one was free!

Pennyssmartwatch · 26/05/2025 14:04

Oh they were loose too, when I bit down in my sleep they just cracked. My dentist was annoyed but it wasn't my fault!

Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 14:05

That’s if I get another one. He’s a very good dentist. I feel guilty that I’ve managed to break it even though I don’t know how I’ve done it.

Concerned I’ll be left without one.

Im just clumsy thanks to brain medication I’m on for nerve issues so usually when something breaks it’s my fault.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 14:06

Pennyssmartwatch · 26/05/2025 14:04

Oh they were loose too, when I bit down in my sleep they just cracked. My dentist was annoyed but it wasn't my fault!

I couldn’t bite on it.. it has a block on the front 2 teeth to keep all other teeth apart so nothing touches that bit.

Dentist is private. Don’t have an nhs one.

OP posts:
Pennyssmartwatch · 26/05/2025 14:11

Oucht · 26/05/2025 14:06

I couldn’t bite on it.. it has a block on the front 2 teeth to keep all other teeth apart so nothing touches that bit.

Dentist is private. Don’t have an nhs one.

Show quote history

That doesn't sound like a good idea tbh, your teeth should be touching it and free to move. Specialists made my splint over a couple of months so I got a lot of information about how it should work and fit against the teeth. Your dentist should still be able to refer you to a dental hospital. I would ask as they sound awful.

LittleMissNumber · 26/05/2025 14:13

I can't understand why you aren't the cross one, unless you know you did something wrong? If not then this is absolutely on the dentist and they should be very apologetic.

ThierryHwasthebest · 26/05/2025 14:15

I have a splint that goes over my bottom teeth. It was only £190 at the dentist and it fits over all my teeth to stop grinding, I would expect it to last several years.
I think your dentist needs to replace for free.

CantStopMoving · 26/05/2025 14:16

Why are you the idiot? They made you something expensive, and it broke. Don’t going there saying you did anything wrong. You go in the saying they made you a defective product

DongDingBell · 26/05/2025 14:26

You don't know how you did it, because you didn't break it. It was faulty before it even reached you. Imagine what could have happened if you'd swallowed that small chunk in your sleep. The absolute minimium should be a replacement - at no cost to you.

Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 14:42

Pennyssmartwatch · 26/05/2025 14:11

That doesn't sound like a good idea tbh, your teeth should be touching it and free to move. Specialists made my splint over a couple of months so I got a lot of information about how it should work and fit against the teeth. Your dentist should still be able to refer you to a dental hospital. I would ask as they sound awful.

Show quote history

It’s a Sleep Clench Inhibitor. It’s fits over all my top teeth but is block at the 2 front teeth which keeps all other teeth apart. They’re quite common. I’ve had them before.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oucht · 26/05/2025 14:47

I wish I was assertive like so many of you.
My previous SCI from my last dentist was £500 too. I’m having to use that one now this one’s broken.
My dentist is very very confident. I feel a little intimidated even though he’s very nice too.

OP posts: