Therapies for bruxism: a systematic review and network meta-analysis (protocol)

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Sleep Medicine
• Evidence-Based Dentistry

Background:

• Bruxism, characterized by teeth grinding and clenching, is a prevalent sleep disorder affecting up to 31% of adults.
• This condition can lead to irreversible tooth injuries, highlighting the need for effective management.
• Current treatment options for bruxism are diverse, including pharmacotherapy, physical therapies, and psychological interventions, but no single best treatment is established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate various therapies for treating adult bruxism.
• To identify the most effective treatment for different bruxism manifestations through a network meta-analysis.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical bruxism management and future research design.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in major databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, LILACS).
• Included studies were Controlled Clinical Trials and Randomized Clinical Trials with specific bruxism outcome measures.
• A Bayesian network meta-analysis was employed to compare the relative efficacy of different bruxism treatments, adhering to PRISMA-NMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• The systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to identify and compare the effectiveness of various bruxism therapies.
• Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed on included studies.
• A random effects model was used for pairwise meta-analyses, and a Bayesian network meta-analysis explored treatment comparisons.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review seeks to determine the optimal treatment for adult bruxism.
• Findings may inform clinical practice by guiding the selection of the best therapy for individual bruxism cases.
• Recommendations will be provided for patients, clinicians, and researchers regarding bruxism treatment and study design.