The use of the BruxChecker in the evaluation and treatment of bruxism

Bruxism is defined as a diurnal or nocturnal parafunctional activity involving grinding, gnashing or clenching of the teeth, accompanied by hyperactivity of the masticatory musculature. It is associated with occlusal trauma, abrasion, attrition and abfraction of hard tooth structures, cervical defects, tooth migration, and the etiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The evaluation of the individual masticatory movement pattern is decisive for the assessment of "pathological" influences of occlusion and the long-term stability and quality of occlusal rehabilitation, both in reconstructive dentistry and orthodontics. The involuntary and incalculable forces acting particularly during nocturnal parafunctional activity are difficult to reproduce or record in everyday clinical practice. The aim of this article is to present the BruxChecker (Scheu Dental) and evaluate existing dental literature on this topic. The BruxChecker is a simple diagnostic tool that facilitates the recording and evaluation of patients' parafunctional activity patterns. It enables the visualization of static and dynamic occlusal contacts, the identification of physiological or unphysiological tooth contacts, and the classification and differentiation of the dynamic occlusal scheme. The assessment of these patterns in the context of occlusion diagnostics enables the development of a precise, personalized treatment plan for each patient based on his or her respective current bruxism pattern. Keywords: BruxChecker, bruxism, clenching, grinding, occlusion, temporomandibular disorder (TMD), temporomandibular system (TMS)