Electromyogram assessment of the efficacy of low level LASER therapy with or without using occlusal splint in management of bruxism

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the efficacy of low level LASER therapy with or without using occlusal splint in management of bruxism 30 dentulous patients who suffered from bruxism were selected from out clinic of diagnosis department and Prosthodontic department, Faculty of dentistry, Ain Shams University Patients answered a questionnaire for bruxism to collect data ,and visual analogue scale questionnaire were give to the patients pre and with the follow up periods to evaluate pain intensity and patients satisfaction . Patients were divided randomly into three groups each include ten patients: For group A: Patients in this group received 20 sessions (three sessions per week for first month of treatment ,two sessions for second month of treatment) of low level LASER using semi-conductor diode laser type(Epic Biolase device) with wavelength 940 nm, power of 4.5 watt with continuous mode of operation Therapy will be applied to extra oral muscular points. For group B: Patients in this group received soft occlusal splint of 2mm thickness that will be constructed on lower teeth. For group C: Patients in this group received soft occlusal splint of 2mm thickness that will be constructed on lower teeth, in conjunction with application of low level laser therapy as in group A. Muscular activity for masseter and temporalis muscles was recorded and registered using electromyogram (EMG) before after grouping the patients and at the follow up periods after reserving treatment after ten Summary 111 sessions of LASER application (4 weeks) ,after twenty sessions of application of LASER(8 weeks) and at the end of 1 month after the end of LLLT and removal of the splint. Results in this study showed an increase in muscle activity in the three groups ,for the pain intensity ,it decreased remarkably in group A then in group C and increased in group B.