Surgical Occlusal Wafer
A custom-made acrylic splint worn between the teeth during or after jaw surgery to guide the jaws into a planned occlusal position.
Full Definition
A surgical occlusal wafer (also called a surgical splint) is a precisely fabricated acrylic device inserted between the upper and lower dental arches during orthognathic or reconstructive jaw surgery. It acts as a positional guide, ensuring the jaws are fixed in the planned postoperative occlusal relationship before rigid internal fixation is applied. Wafers may be interim (used during surgery between stages) or final (worn postoperatively). Editors must not confuse 'wafer' with 'stent', which refers to a different device used to maintain space or protect a wound site.
Usage
Usage note: Not interchangeable with 'surgical stent'. 'Wafer' is the preferred term in UK oral surgery practice; 'splint' is more common in North American usage. Clarify regional convention when editing for international publications.
In Context
- "The surgical occlusal wafer was seated intraoperatively to verify the planned Class I occlusion before plate fixation." — Operative Report
- "Postoperatively, the patient was instructed to wear the final surgical occlusal wafer at all times except when eating." — Postoperative Instructions