Bruxism Force Detection by a Piezoelectric Film-Based Recording Device in Sleeping Humans

Aims: To test the reliability and utility of a force-based bruxism detection system (Intra-Splint Force Detector [ISFD]) for multiple night recordings of forceful tooth-to-splint contacts in sleeping human subjects in their home environment. Methods: Bruxismtype forces, ie, forceful tooth-to-splint contacts, during the night were recorded with this system in 12 subjects (6 bruxers and 6 controls) for 5 nights in their home environment; a laboratorybased nocturnal polysomnogram (NPSG) study was also performed on 1 of these subjects. Results: All 12 subjects were able to use the device without substantial difficulty on a nightly basis. The bruxer group exhibited bruxism events of significantly longer duration than the control group (27 seconds/hour versus 7.4 seconds/ hour, P .01). A NPSG study performed on 1 subject revealed that, when the masseter muscle electromyogram (EMG) was used as a "gold standard," the ISFD had a sensitivity of 0.89. The correlation coefficient between the duration of events detected by the ISFD and the EMG was also 0.89. Conclusion: These results suggest that the ISFD is a system that can be used easily by the subjects and that has a reasonable reliability for bruxism detection as reflected in forceful tooth-to-splint contacts during sleep. Keywords: bruxism, occlusal appliance, EMG, occlusal force, sleep