The Davies-technique hard stabilisation splint is a precision-fitted hard acrylic device that holds the bite at its correct position to ease bruxism, clenching and jaw-muscle pain. Unlike a shop-bought night guard that only shields tooth surfaces, it stabilises where the jaw actually rests. At Dental & Wellness London it is £495, including bite registration, custom fabrication, fitting and review.
The £30-versus-£495 question
A pharmacy boil-and-bite guard (£20-£80) puts soft material between teeth so grinding wears the plastic instead of enamel — but does nothing for where the jaw closes, and a spongy surface can invite harder clenching. The Davies splint is a hard, flat-planed appliance built from a precise registration of where the jaw is designed to rest. Grinding and clenching are covered on our teeth grinding and bruxism page.
What the Davies technique actually is
Centric-relation registration — recording the jaw's proper joint position, not the habitual worn bite. Lab-fabricated hard acrylic — a flat, even biting surface that lets muscles relax. Multi-appointment adjustment — the bite shifts as muscles release, refined over several visits.
What it treats — and what it doesn't
Treats: bruxism, chronic clenching, muscular jaw pain, muscle-origin headaches, pre-restorative bite stabilisation. Does not treat: structural joint pathology, disc displacement needing imaging or surgery, or pain unrelated to the bite — those need referral.
The process
Three to four appointments over six to eight weeks: consultation (£65) → bite registration and impressions → fitting → adjustment and six-month review.
Why it costs £495
Covers registration, lab fabrication, fitting, two adjustments and the six-month review. Sits between a pharmacy guard (£20-£80, no bite correction) and full bite reconstruction (many thousands) as the proportionate treatment. Other options are compared in our bruxism treatment guide.
The bite and the whole system
Grinding is often patterned to stress and disrupted sleep. Most patients treated for jaw tension do well on the splint alone, without masseter treatment, which is only assessed and prescribed separately where genuinely indicated.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it £495 when a night guard is £80? Different jobs — a night guard cushions teeth, the splint repositions the jaw via precise registration and lab fabrication.
How long does it last? Commonly several years with nightly wear. Care tips are in how to clean your night guard.
Will it stop my grinding? It protects teeth and helps muscles settle; many notice eased morning ache within weeks.
How many appointments does it take? Usually three to four over six to eight weeks.
Does it hurt to wear? Shouldn't; most sleep comfortably within a week or two.
Do I still need masseter treatment if I have the splint? Most people don't.
Speak to us about your jaw
Consultation £65. Davies splint £495. Call 020 8127 4567 or WhatsApp +44 7974 910222. 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP.
Reviewed by Dr Vishal Patel · BDS (Liverpool), MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester), GDC 103127 · trained in the Dawson Academy occlusal philosophy. Last reviewed 6 June 2026.
