Choosing The Right Volume

Dr. Steven Olmos explains the different sizes of the Aqualizer® bite splint. All models of the Aqualizer® are available in three different vertical dimensions: “Low,” “Medium,” and “High.” The vertical dimension (thickness) is controlled by the amount of fluid in the Aqualizer®.

DR. STEVEN OLMOS: Choosing the proper volume of the Aqualizer is essential for the maximum effect. The Aqualizer comes in three different volumes, low, medium, and high. This equates to the interocclusal space of speech. These techniques are outlined in the journal articles that we have published, and basically, as a person counts from 66 to 77, as we're counting, 66, 67, 68, you will observe the posterior interocclusal space. The equivalent of one millimeter interocclusal space would be the low volume Aqualizer. Two millimeters to three millimeters would be medium volume. Three to five millimeters of interocclusal space would be the high volume. It's important that you equate these, and have the proper volume for each patient and it's titrated in that way because, in a patient, let's say a person who has a very deep bite, if you were to place a low volume in a patient who might need five millimeters of decompression, then you won't get the maximum effect of the appliance. If you had a patient let's say had a open bite, and only required about a millimeter of posterior interocclusal separation, and you placed a high volume Aqualizer, then you might even increase the muscular activity. In no situation, will you produce a pathologic, long term or permanent problem for the patient. It's just that you won't maximize the effect that you're hoping for.