Splints, Night Guards, and NTIs
Which appliance, for which patient, and for what purpose? Not every patient who clenches needs the same appliance. Learn to connect appliance selection to diagnosis and a clearly defined clinical objective.
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The same pre-recorded lecture is offered at each scheduled time. This is not a live presentation.
The appliance may be correct. The decision may not be.
Dentists regularly prescribe night guards, stabilization splints, NTIs, and repositioning appliances. Yet these terms are often used as though they mean the same thing. An appliance may be fabricated correctly and still be unsuitable for the patient's clinical needs.
In this lecture, Dr. Agatha Bis examines what different appliances are intended to accomplish, how full-coverage and limited-contact designs differ, and what NTIs can and cannot reveal. She also considers how appliance design may influence muscle activity, joint comfort, and occlusion.
Explore when a conventional night guard may be appropriate, what information the dental laboratory needs, and why patients sometimes report a different bite after delivery. Learn which findings should prompt adjustment, discontinuation, diagnostic reassessment, or referral.
Three clinical learning objectives.
Differentiate the clinical purposes of night guards, stabilization splints, NTIs, and other occlusal appliances.
Match an appliance category to a clearly defined treatment objective based on clinical findings.
Recognize findings that require appliance adjustment, discontinuation, referral, or diagnostic reassessment.
Dr. Agatha Bis
Founder, BIS Institute
Dr. Agatha Bis has over 30 years of clinical experience, with a strong clinical focus on TMJ and TMD management, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
Her teaching emphasizes understanding the underlying cause of clinical problems so dentists can make more informed treatment decisions.
FREE REGISTRATION
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Choose your time.
Register for this free, pre-recorded clinical lecture. Select the viewing time that works for you. After registering, check your email for the viewing-room link and access instructions. If you do not receive it, please contact BIS Institute.
The Occlusal Appliance Selection Guide
A practical reference to help you consider each appliance's intended purpose, relevant clinical findings, and when to reassess.
After watching the lecture, you will be able to download this complimentary resource from the lecture viewing room.
From appliance selection to clinical application.
Knowing which appliance to select is only the first step. In Level 2: Orthotic Design & Adjustment, dentists move into the practical process of design, bite registration, delivery, contact evaluation, adjustment, and troubleshooting.
Develop a more structured approach to working with occlusal appliances in clinical practice.
April 9–10, 2027 · Oakville, Ontario
Explore Level 2 Hands-OnChoose the appliance with a clearer purpose.
Join Dr. Bis for a free prerecorded dental CE lecture with four scheduled viewing times.
Register for the lecturePre-recorded lecture · 8 AM, 12 PM, 5 PM, or 8 PM EST
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