Finite element analysis of occlusal splint therapy in patients with bruxism

Abstract

Background: Bruxism is among the habits considered generally as contributory factors for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and its etiology is still controversial.Methods: Three-dimensional models of maxilla and mandible and teeth of 37 patients and 36 control subjects were created using in-vivo image data. The maximum values of stress and deformation were calculated in 21 patients six months after using a splint and compared with those in the initial conditions. Results: The maximum stresses in the jaw bone and head of mandible were respectively 4.4 and 4.1 times higher in patients than in control subjects. Similar values for deformation were 5.8 and 4.9, respectively. The maximum stress in the jaw bone and head of mandible decreased six months after splint application by up to 71.0% and 72.8%, respectively. Similar values for the maximum deformation were 80.7% and 78.7%, respectively. Following the occlusal splint therapy, the approximation of maximum deformation to the relevant values in control subjects was about 2.6 times the approximation of maximum stress to the relevant values in control subjects. The maximum stress and maximum deformation occurred in all cases in the head of the mandible and the splint had the highest effectiveness in jaw bone adjacent to the molar teeth. Conclusions: Splint acts as a stress relaxer and dissipates the extra stresses generated as well as the TMJ deformation and deviations due to bruxism. The splint also makes the bilateral and simultaneous loading possible and helps with the treatment of this disorder through regulation of bruxism by creating a biomechanical equilibrium between the physiological loading and the generated stress.

A State-of-the-Art Review on the Wear of the Occlusal Surfaces of Natural Teeth and Prosthetic Crowns

“…These forces vary with the type of teeth and can reach much higher values (from 150–800 N [ 10 ]). Oral pathologies, such as bruxism, which corresponds to teeth grinding or clenching during sleeping, present a prevalence in the general population that ranges from 8%–31.4% [ 11 ]. It involves direct contact between teeth and therefore, can result in excessive wear [ 12 , 13 ].…”

The effect of electromagnetic field on decreasing and increasing of the growth and proliferation rate of dermal fibroblast cell

“…As all the experiments in the present study were performed at a frequency of 50 Hz, the effects of frequency change both on increasing and reducing the growth rate of skin fibroblasts can be further studied. Furthermore, many simulation methods have been proposed to evaluate the biological conditions of cells, tissues, or organs, [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] and the results of present study could be developed using such simulation methods.…”

Reabilitação estética e funcional das bordas incisais dos dentes anteriores com fechamento de diastemas e reanatomização em resina composta: relato de caso clínico

“…Dentre diferentes abordagens terapêuticas para o bruxismo, podem ser usados dispositivos miorrelaxante em acrílico que irão proteger os dentes do desgaste 41 ; aplicação de toxina botulínica para reduzir a hiperatividade muscular [43][44][45][46] ; técnicas de biofeedback como terapia cognitivo comportamental visando a regulação da atividade excessiva do músculo 47,48 ; e até mesmo lançar mão do uso de aplicativos que ajudam o paciente a lembrar de desencostar os dentes 49 .…”