CE dental courses - Courses for dentists - TMJ Course

The Nightguard Mistake Most Dentists Don’t Know They’re Making

The Problem Isn't the Nightguard. It's What Happens Before You Prescribe It.

Nightguards and splints do not behave the same way in every patient. Many appliance complications begin long before the device is even fabricated. The real problem is not necessarily the guard itself. It is the functional system the guard enters.

When bruxism, clenching, or joint instability are not correctly identified, an appliance may contribute to increased muscle activity, joint strain, bite changes, or continued symptoms.

In this prerecorded clinical lecture, Dr. Agatha Bis explores how to recognize different functional patterns, make informed appliance decisions, and understand how appliance design influences muscles, joints, and occlusion.

Through real clinical cases, you'll discover why some appliances succeed, why others fail, and how a more structured diagnostic approach can improve treatment decisions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:

1. Differentiate bruxism from clenching through clinical assessment and patient history.

2. Identify the type of appliance that best fits each functional pattern, including bruxing, clenching, or TMD instability.

3. Understand the principles of nightguard design and how different designs affect muscles, joints, and occlusion.

4. Recognize signs of appliance-related complications and determine when an appliance was selected without the correct diagnosis.

5. Apply a structured TMJ and occlusal evaluation before recommending any appliance.

6. Adjust or redesign appliances to support TMJ stability and reduce functional strain.