Which is usually used for TMJD – soft occlusal splints or hard? Should a soft splint be breaking after 1 week!?

I have TMJD, had a preliminary diagnosis last October and that was confirmed about a month ago. The specialist I saw had a soft splint made up but after wearing it for only 1 week it’s already starting to “break” or degrade or whatever. And that’s only after wearing it for 1 week – and not even every night and when I did I didn’t even wear it for the full night! Yet it’s still breaking down? Bruxism of course.

Anyway, went to my dentist today and he said he would have suggested, had he been the specilaist I was referred to, a hard splint – a flat (plate?) hard splint, this is what I need according to him. So, which is more common for specialists to have made up – soft or hard. When I asked why I was getting a soft one I was told the specialist has had more success with soft splints rather than hard. Is it unusal for a soft splint to start breaking so fast? Are hard ones much more uncomfortable to wear? Thanks.
Faith, I was up in Dublin yesterday : ) Yep. The big smoke. Traffic lights and all those technological thingies. HSE paid for splint and so-called consultations. Well, they better bloody pay again! Paid myself for a checkup today at my local dentist – he’s pretty good luckily. €30 which is pretty good I think. Can get 2 fillings doen on the med card for free, he said main cause of my problemos is the TMJD: (