Metrics details. Bruxism is a repetitive activity that causes tooth wear, audible sounds, and discomfort. Preventive measures have been studied for conditions that can exert a negative influence on physiological development in children. Low-level laser therapy administered over acupoints is an effective, painless, low-cost treatment option that has achieved good results.
Thus, the aim of the proposed study is to evaluate changes in muscle activity, bite force and salivary cortisol in children with bruxism after the application of low-level laser to accupoints. The children will be randomly allocated to four groups of 19 individuals: G1 - low-level laser; G2 - occlusal splint; G3 - placebo laser; and G4 - control without bruxism. Salivary cortisol will be analysed at baseline as well as one and six months after treatment.
Bruxism is a repetitive activity of the masticatory muscles that can have negative consequences if not treated, such as tooth wear, noises, discomfort and anxiety. Thus, control and treatment measures should be taken. Although low-level laser therapy over acupoints has been indicated for children, the effects of this treatment modality have not yet been studied.
NCT on 8 April Peer Review reports. This condition is classified as either primary or secondary [ 1 ]. With primary bruxism, there is no evident medical, systemic or psychiatric cause, whereas secondary bruxism is associated with a clinical, neurological or psychiatric disorder, iatrogenic factors or sleep disorder [ 1 , 4 ].
Divergent opinions are found on the aetiology of sleep bruxism. Some authors state that central disturbances are the main cause. In this theory, muscle hyperactivity is caused by instability in the basal ganglia; synapses change the way that they function, altering between inhibitory and excitatory neurons [ 7 ]. Another theory assumes that malocclusion is the primary cause of grinding and clenching the teeth, as occlusal maladjustment reduces masticatory muscle tone; with occlusal imbalance, the activity of motor neurons of the masticatory muscles could be initiated by periodontal receptors [ 7 ].
