Short-Term use of occlusal splint in patients with sleep bruxism: A case-Controlled study

Objectives: The efficacy of the occlusal splint to reduce sleep bruxism (SB), remains a controversial issue. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a short-term occlusal splint therapy in patients with SB, evaluating both the nocturnal electromyographic (EMG) activity of the temporalis muscle through a portable EMG recording device and the migraine SBrelated severity and discomfort. Materials and methods: Sixty patients with SB were randomized into 2 equal groups, a group treated with an occlusal splint and an untreated control group for a study period of two weeks. EMG activity during sleep was recorded from the right side of anterior temporalis muscle with a portable electromyographic recording device. Outcomes of interest were the differences in bruxism activity (number of EMG events/hour) Bruxism length (Second/event) and migraine disability score (MIDAS) between the two groups. Results: After the 2-weeks study period the bruxism activity and length decreased significantly (p = 0.006 and p = 0.037, respectively) as well as the MIDAS grading (p < 0.05) in the treatment group compared with control group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the short-term use of occlusal splint therapy is effective in reducing both SB activity and migraine SB-related discomfort, with a positive and rapid relaxing action of the masticatory muscles.