Define And Classify Periodontal Splints

A periodontal splint is an appliance used for maintaining or stabilizing mobile teeth in their functional position.

Types Of Splinting In Dentistry

Classification of Periodontal Splints

According to the Period of Stabilization

• Temporary stabilization: Worn for less than 6 months
  • Removable: Occlusal splint with wire and Hawley with splinting arch wire
  • Fixed: Intracoronal and extracoronal
• Provisional stabilization: Worn for 6 to 12 months. E.g. Acrylic splints and metal bands
• Permanent splints: Used indefinitely
  • Removable/Fixed
  • Extra/Intracoronal
  • Full/Partial veneer crown soldered together
  • Inlay/Onlay soldered together

According to the Type of Material

• A-splints
• Bonded, composite resin button splint
• Braided wire splint.

According to the Location on the Tooth

Intracoronal

• Composite resin with wire
• Inlays
• Nylon wire.

Extraoral

• Tooth-bonded plastic
• Night guard
• Welded bands.

Ross, Weisgold and Wright Classification

• Temporary stabilization
  • Extracoronal splints
  • Removable
  • Fixed
  • Intracoronal splints
• Provisional stabilization
  • Acrylic splints
  • Metal—band and acrylic splints
• Permanent/Long-term stabilization
  • Removable splints
  • Fixed splints
  • Combination of removable and fixed splints.