Nightguard Materials - What you need to know.

Any modern dental lab should have a wide selection of dental splint (Nightguard) materials, which is great, but making sense of all the material options can sometimes feel overwhelming. This short article will help make sense of all the most popular splint materials, for which we will be covering the: pros, cons, and the ideal use for each material.

Let’s get into it:

1. 3D Printed Flex Splint (Nightguard)

   There are multiple names for this material, but if the splint has a bluish color to it and becomes more flexible in warm/hot water - then the splint material falls into this category.

   Pros:

   • Thermal flexing properties: allow the splint to soften when heated up, allowing the splint to conform to any imperfections in the impression resulting in a lower number of remakes.

   • Patient preference/comfort: the flexible properties of the splint allow warm water to be used for a softer insertion, removing any snap to the fit.

   Cons:

   • Durability: Or lack thereof… If the patient is an aggressive bruxer and has any history of cracking or breaking nightguards. This will not be a great solution as it’s mechanical properties will cause it to tear apart/crack in the posterior (often on the molars) under heavy bruxing conditions.

   • Thickness: These splints are meant to only be used at a minimum thickness of 1.5mm as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. For patients with an anterior open bite, there may need to be a large portion of material in the anterior, making it difficult for the patient to close their lips.

   Ideal Use: A patient who is a light to medium intensity bruxer that wants a hot-water-softening night guard and does not have an anterior open bite.

   ** For patients who want this Nightguard but are concerned about breaking it due to higher levels of bruxing, our lab has the capabilities to reinforce the occlusal surface with high impact acrylic.

2. Hard Acrylic Splint (Nightguard)

   100% Hard acrylic construction.

   Pros:

   • Complete rigidity: There is virtually no flexibility in the material, which means there is going to be no temptation for the patient to chew or brux the Nightguard.

   • Durability: The 100% high impact acrylic design is strong and resistant to patients with a higher bruxing force.

   • Thinness: The material can be thinner in the posterior and still maintain strong mechanical properties, meaning less bulkiness on the occlusal plain allowing the patient to maintain a smaller opening when wearing the Nightguard.

   Cons:

   • Complete rigidity: Yes, as mentioned in the pros section, complete rigidity is also a con because of the lack of forgiveness in the fit. If there is any issue when taking the patients oral impression, the splint will likely have issues fitting properly and make require a new scan/impression to refabricate the splint.

   Ideal Use: Any Doctor who wants a completely rigid nightguard for their patient. An Acrylic splint is ideal for a patient who is a light to heavy intensity bruxer.

3. ClearSplint Flexible Nightguard

   Completely crystal clear, the ClearSplint Nightguard is even more thermal flexing than it’s 3D printed counterpart.

   Pros:

   • Thermal Flexing: When submerged in warm water, the splint becomes flexible and very comfortable to wear.

   • Durability: While this is also a thermal flexing splint, you can expect to see far better resistant to forces from bruxism than with the 3D Printed Flex splint.

   • Clarity: There is no blue or yellow tinge, this splint is 100% crystal clear.

   Cons:

   • Thickness: Because the splint is so thermal flexing, there may need to be higher coverage on the teeth to capture sufficient undercuts for retention. This can make the splint look and feel bulky.

   Ideal Use: Any patient who doesn’t mind spending a bit more for a stronger, clearer, and more comfortable thermal flexing splint. Ideal for patients with light to medium bruxing.

   4. PetiteSplint (Orthocraft Exclusive Splint)

   Invented in our own Orthocraft Laboratory, The PetiteSplint uses 2 materials in one, the first being the rigid biocryl inner liner, and the second being the high impact acrylic occlusal surface.

   Pros:

   • Minimalist feel: This splint has zero unnecessary bulk and is the thinnest splint available.

   • Durability: While the splint is thin, the Dual-Membrane technology makes it one of the most durable splints available.

   • Clarity: This splint is 100% clear with no color to it.

   Cons:

   • Not flexible: Does not have a lot of forgiveness in the fit, any issues with the impression may cause the nightguard not to fit.

   Ideal Use: Any patient with a sensitive gag reflex or who wants a minimalist feel. Ideal for patients with light to heavy bruxing.

   5. DuraSplint (Orthocraft Exclusive Splint)

   Similar to the PetiteSplint, the “Dura” was Invented in our own Orthocraft Laboratory, The DuraSplint uses 2 materials in one, the first being a flexible inner liner, and the second being the high impact acrylic occlusal surface.

   Pros:

   • Comfort/forgiveness: The flexible inner liner makes for a very comfortable fit, and offers forgiveness to any small imperfection in the impression - which makes for a much less chance of remake.

   • Durability: The Dual-Membrane technology makes it one of the most durable splints available.

   • Thinnest flexible material: Thinner on the lingual/buccal than any other flexible splint material, no unnecessary bulk.

   Cons:

   • Slightly bulkier than the petite: Does not have a lot of forgiveness in the fit, any issues with the impression may cause the nightguard not to fit.

   Ideal Use: Any patient who wants a flexible splint that is as thin and strong as possible.