Dental Mobility and Splinting : Causes, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment

"From mobility to stability" is what every Periodontist aims at. For centuries dentists have been trying to stabilize loose teeth. The periodontally compromised dentition offers many opportunities to debate the efficacy of splinting. It frequently addresses the therapeutic goals of treatment, including patient comfort with mastication and retention of teeth after orthodontic intervention. Dental splints that are properly placed and contoured enable effective patient self-care and contribute to a positive prognosis. Continued success cannot occur without scrupulous patient self-care. With the combination of proficient clinical skill, appropriate dental material selection, good communication and comprehensive health education, both providers and patients can benefit from aesthetic, functional and healthy dental splints. We hope that these notes will provide a straightforward theoretical base on which the post-graduate and undergraduate may build knowledge on mobility and splinting and develop an interest in the speciality of Periodontics.