Examining the Need for Dentist Impressions and Clinical Review of Stabilisation Splints

ABSTRACT Aim Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, some of the stabilisation splints manufactured were unable to be reviewed at the post‐fit review appointment within the usual timeframe of 6–8 weeks. Secondly, there was a change from dentist‐delivered to nurse‐delivered impression clinics. There appeared to be no negative impact on patient‐reported outcomes with the decreased availability of review appointments and the change in impression taking. This service evaluation sought to assess patients who had dentist versus nurse‐led impressions and a review post‐fit to help identify whether dentist‐delivered impressions are required, and whether a review is required at 6–8 weeks post‐fit to adjust the splint. Methods A total of 91 splints were identified by the dental laboratory at Newcastle Dental Hospital over a 12‐month period from 2019 to 2020. The notes were reviewed and standardised data were collected to assess whether there was any difference between nurse‐delivered and dentist‐delivered impressions regarding adjustments or remakes required at fit appointments. Further adjustments required at the 6–8‐week post‐fit review appointment were also reviewed to determine their frequency and establish if they are routinely required. Results A total of 78 patients had bilaminar hard upper splints fitted (86%) of the 91 patient records reviewed. Only one remake of a splint was required, and 88% of nurse‐led impressions led to splints requiring adjustment at the fit appointment compared to 76% of dentist‐led impressions leading to splints requiring adjustment at the initial fit. No adjustments were required by 52% of patients at their post‐fit review appointment. Conclusions The results would imply that there is minimal difference between adjustments required for nurse‐delivered and dentist‐delivered impressions to make bilaminar hard upper splints at the initial fit appointment. However, the nurse‐delivered impression group is much smaller than the dentist‐delivered impression group, and therefore a larger sample size would be required to infer whether this difference is significant or not. As more than 50% of patients did not require any adjustments to their splints at the 6–8‐week post‐fit review appointment, this appointment may not be necessary and could be converted to patient‐initiated follow‐up/review if patients are educated in the signs of when a review is required.