A simple jaw splint for minimally displaced mandible fractures with undisplaced occlusion

A 35-year-old patient presented with a minimally displaced jaw fracture with normal occlusion. She was treated conservatively with a soft diet and told to avoid doing things that hurt to prevent movement at the fracture site. She had the most difficulty with pain generated by walking, driving on bumpy roads and waking up with an unfavourable jaw position during her sleep. She created a simple Velcro (Velcro Industries BV, USA) splint, that removed all of her pain with walking, driving and sleeping and went on to heal her fracture uneventfully. The occupational therapist easily fabricated this splint for a second patient, who also found it very helpful.