Electromyogram biofeedback training for daytime clenching and its effect on sleep bruxism

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Neurology
• Biofeedback

Background:

• Bruxism, encompassing awake (AB) and sleep (SB) forms, is linked to temporomandibular disorders and dental issues.
• Current treatment options for bruxism lack proven efficacy in clinical dentistry.
• Effective management strategies for bruxism are crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of electromyogram (EMG) biofeedback (BF) training in reducing awake bruxism (AB) tonic events.
• To investigate the impact of EMG BF training on sleep bruxism (SB) tonic events.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled study involving 12 male participants with AB or SB.
• Participants were divided into EMG BF training and control groups over three weeks.
• EMG recordings of temporalis muscle activity were conducted during daytime and night-time sessions.

Main Results:

• The EMG BF group showed a significant decrease in daytime and night-time tonic EMG events in weeks 2 and 3 compared to week 1.
• The control group did not exhibit statistically significant changes in tonic EMG events throughout the study.
• EMG BF training effectively reduced undesirable clenching activity.

Conclusions:

• EMG biofeedback training is an effective method for improving awake bruxism (AB) by reducing tonic EMG events.
• This biofeedback approach also shows potential for regulating sleep bruxism (SB) tonic events.
• EMG biofeedback presents a viable therapeutic strategy for managing bruxism.