The Gelb is a flat plane mandibular splint, with occlusal coverage over the posteriors, designed for treatment of closed-lock cases. A metal lingual bar is usually the major connector, which allows for plenty of tongue room.
The patient needs to relax the disc before moving to a pull-forward splint, so this splint is usually made to a centric bite. Patients should be seen often during this stage of treatment. A 30 day interval is normal to check the range of motion.