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Reduction of sleep bruxism events according to contingent electrical stimulus intensity
Shigehito Kawahara1, Takayuki Kusunoki1, Kaori Arikawa1
1Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Osaka Dental University, Osaka, Japan.
Background:
Although biofeedback with contingent electrical stimulation (CES) has demonstrated the reduction effect on sleep bruxism (SB), the relationship between the actual applied CES intensity and efficacy remains uncertain.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate whether the reduction of bruxism events and jaw muscle symptoms could vary according to the intensity of CES and in probable sleep bruxers.
Methods:
Twenty probable sleep bruxers were initially screened for bruxer confirmation based on a 2-week recording of SB events with a portable electromyography recorder (BUTLER®GrindCare®, GC4). A 3-week recording was conducted without CES using a GC4, followed by another 3-week recording with CES. At baseline and before and after the CES (+) session, clinical muscle symptoms were assessed using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS). The relationships between the actual applied CES intensity and the number of SB events/hour, as well as the NRS of clinical muscle symptoms, were analysed.
Results:
The actual applied CES intensity was positively correlated with the reduction rate of the number of SB events/hour (R = .643, p = .002), as well as with the reduction rate of NRS for pain, unpleasantness, fatigue, tension and stiffness (R > .500, p < .011).
Conclusion:
Higher CES elicited a more robust reduction in SB events and clinical muscle symptoms, in probable bruxers. Prior to selecting CES biofeedback as a management option for SB, it would be beneficial to assess the tolerance threshold of CES in each bruxer in order to predict the effectiveness of CES in probable sleep bruxers.
