Bergmann, A., Edelhoff, D., Schubert, O. et al. Effect of
treatment with a full-occlusion biofeedback splint on sleep bruxism and
TMD pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Clin Oral Invest (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-020-03270-z
Abstract
Objectives
The
purpose of the present study was to analyze treatment outcome with a
full-occlusion biofeedback (BFB) splint on sleep bruxism (SB) and TMD
pain compared with treatment with an adjusted occlusal splint (AOS).
Materials and methods
Forty-one
patients were randomly allocated to a test (BFB) or a control (AOS)
group and monitored over a 3-month period. Output variables were
frequency and duration of bruxing events (bursts) and various pain
symptoms.
Results
The
BFB group showed a statistically significant reduction in the frequency
and duration of bursts and a statistically significant improvement in
the patients’ global well-being and the facial muscle pain parameter.
After the treatment was stopped, the BFB group showed a statistically
significant reduction in the average and maximum duration but no
statistically significant change in the frequency of bursts.
Conclusions
The
tested BFB splint is highly effective in reducing SB at the
subconscious level, i.e., without waking the patient, and in achieving
improvements in global pain perception. The results suggest that the BFB
splint also provides a better treatment option for bruxism-related pain
than an AOS. However, further research is needed, and specifically
studies with a larger patient population displaying higher levels of
pain at baseline.
Clinical relevance
By
reducing burst duration and therefore the pathological load on the
masticatory apparatus, the BFB splint reduces TMD and bruxism-related
symptoms and improves patients’ physical well-being. In the long term,
this could prevent damage to the TMJ. This study confirms the
effectiveness and safety of this splint.
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