Bite registration for occlusal splints
When making an occlusal splint, we need to provide the lab with an upper and lower impression (digital or analogue) and a bite registration. One arch record is used to make the appliance, the opposing is used to gain the correct occlusion and the bite record is used to mount the models so that the occlusion can be adjusted. The most common bite record that I see taken by my colleagues is either a bite registration in maximum intercuspal position or no bite record at all. This can work out sometimes but from my perspective it is not an accurate bite for splint construction. Essentially, I see a splint as a removeable tool to reestablish the patient's occlusion at an open vertical dimension. When the patient wears a splint, their vertical dimension is opened, and the teeth should ideally contact evenly all around the splint and dynamic movements should be controlled as well. This is what we are aiming for with tooth-tooth occlusion as well. Therefore, the bite records for a splint sh...