Botulinum toxin type A for controlling bruxism assessed with computerized occlusal analysis: A pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) on mandibular movements and bite force (BF%) in bruxism.

Methods: Ten bruxers were divided into 2 groups based on BF% imbalance (G1: >10%, G2: <10%). BTX-A 140U was total injected into the masseter and temporalis muscles. A T-Scan® recorded BF%, occlusion time (OT), right, left, and protrusive disclusion time (DT) before administering BTX-A, as well as 15, 45, 90, and 120 days after injection.

Results: The Friedman and Wilcoxon tests found significant differences in BF% in G1 subjects at 15 days (p = 0.028 s), OT at 90 (p = 0.043 s), and 120 (p = 0.027 s) days, DTR at 90 (p = 0.046 s) and 120 (p = 0.028 s) days, DTL at 15 (p = 0.043 s) and 90 (p = 0.027 s) days, and DTP 45_–90 days (p = 0.043 s).

Conclusion: BTX-A induced BF% starting at 15 days post-injection and influenced lateralities later.

KEYWORDS:

• Botulinum toxin type A
• temporal and masseter muscle
• bruxism
• computerized occlusal analysis (T-Scan®)

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all study participants and gratefully acknowledge the technical support of the TEKSCAN®, MEDY TOX® (Botulift®), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico – CNPq for the scholarship received during the accomplishment of the Master.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. The 2nd author, Robert B. Kerstein DMD, is a consultant to Tekscan, Inc., and receives no monetary gain from sales of any Tekscan products.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by CNPq  Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico under a scholarship awarded for a Master’s Thesis number 130324/2016-7.