Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders concern 12–90% of the human population and the number of patients is constantly rising [1]. The most common symptoms indicating disorders in TMJ functions are mandible movement disturbances, acoustic symptoms and pain. The last one – the most unpleasant – is the most common reason for patients' visits to dental surgeries. Splint therapy is an effective method for these abnormalities. Nowadays, there is a great variety of occlusal splints; however, the therapeutic values of some of them are often underestimated. The correct diagnosis of temporomandibular dysfunction enables the selection of appropriate occlusal splints for every patient. The aim of this article is to harmonize classification and present short descriptions of the most commonly used occlusal splints.

Key words: occlusal splint, temporomandibular joint disorders.