The Bruxism Status Examination Protocol

In routine dental practice, bruxism is generally diagnosed based on patient-reported signs and symptoms as well as clinical examination findings indicative of bruxism. According to the present-day definition of bruxism, current bruxism activity can be identified with high probability based on an evaluation of these findings. The Bruxism Status Examination Protocol (BSEP) is a two-part procedure consisting of a history interview and a clinical examination. It also includes an evaluation for treatment-related risk factors and comorbidities, and a thorough assessment of the masticatory muscles, oral cavity, teeth, and oral soft tissue for signs of bruxism activity. This structured procedure not only serves to identify bruxism activity, but also makes it possible to distinguish between awake bruxism (AB) and sleep bruxism (SB), and to ascertain the predominant type of bruxing action (clenching or grinding). Another indication is for bruxism-specific risk assessments in dental restoration and denture planning. Keywords: sleep bruxism, awake bruxism, clenching, grinding, bruxism screening and diagnosis