While the GrindRelief device on its own has had tremendous success, as a hands-on dentist I have seen a way that the therapy can be improved for SOME patients. For select patients l now combine a vacuum-formed splint, for the opposing arch, made with common .020 clear plastic squares.

This addition provides extra vertical opening and a free glide path for the GrindRelief to move, with an even better anterior guidance. It also stabilizes the opposing arch to prevent tooth movement, which is rare anyway.

I have found this combination raises the device to a higher level of performance in certain clinical circumstances.

Recently, a dear friend of mine commented that she was really struggling with vertigo, tinnitus, headaches, and malaise. She previously had a GrindRelief but misplaced it. I asked her to come into my office and said, “I have something for you.” I made the GrindRelief on the lower arch and a splint on the upper arch. Within two days, the ringing in her ears was gone, her balance was back, and the headaches were gone. Above all, she said, “I have so much energy, it’s unbelievable.”  You can make money, but to me, there’s nothing more valuable than the feeling I get from helping that patient.

In my practice, we never assume that a patient is going to need the secondary device. The splint, if it’s added, is suggested after the patient has had some time to wear the GrindRelief by itself for a week to a month. If there is still some bad muscle activity, or if the patient notes discomfort in the arch without the GrindRelief, that’s when I try the splint.

Of course, in these cases, there’s a fee for the GrindRelief and another for the splint.