Dental News - Pilot study suggests botulinum toxin could help with bruxism

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 9. February 2018

save

HOUSTON, U.S.: A new pilot study has suggested that botulinum toxin might be a feasible way to treat people suffering from bruxism. In the double-blind placebo study, researchers tested the safety and efficacy of onabotulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) injected into the masseter and temporal muscles in patients with symptomatic sleep bruxism. According to the results, those who received the injection reported minimized tooth grinding and clenching.

The study involved 22 patients between 18 and 85 years old with clinically diagnosed sleep bruxism, confirmed by polysomnography. The researchers, from the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, injected 13 participants with 200 BoNT-A units (60 into each masseter and 40 into each temporal muscle) and the remaining patients with the placebo.

Speaking to Dental Tribune International, head researcher Dr. Willian Ondo said, “There are many different theories regarding the genesis of bruxism, ranging from purely psychiatric to purely mechanical. Nevertheless, all movement is mediated by muscles, therefore relaxing the appropriate muscles that cause jaw grinding with botulinum toxin should reduce those movements, regardless of the condition’s etiology.”

According to the results, after the four- and eight-week checkups, participants who were given the placebo injection recorded no improvement to their bruxism condition. However, those who were injected with BoNT-A reported a positive effect with less general grinding and clenching, as well as a reduction in general, associated pain.

According to the researchers, this points to BoNT-A being an effective and safe way to improve sleep bruxism; however, they recommended a large multicenter trial to confirm the initial findings. “There have been a couple of small studies on using botulinum toxin for bruxism done in Asia. We would like to perform a large multicenter trial in North America, but currently there are no active plans to do this,” said Ondo.

The study, titled “Onabotulinum toxin-A injections for sleep bruxism: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study,” was published in the Neurology journal on Jan 17 2018.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Pilot study suggests botulinum toxin could help with bruxism

HOUSTON, U.S.: A new pilot study has suggested that botulinum toxin might be a feasible way to treat people suffering from bruxism. In the double-blind ...

Study finds acupuncture could help with dental anxiety

YORK, UK: Fear of the dentist is something some people suffer from more than others. With multiple reasons for dental anxiety and its effects, there is ...

Study suggests link between verbal bullying and bruxism in adolescents

ITABIRA, Brazil: Verbal bullying at school can negatively impact an adolescent’s mental health, causing distress and anxiety. A Brazilian study has shown ...

New study could help reduce pain in oral cancer patients

NEW YORK, US: Oral tumours can cause agonising pain and thus greatly impair the quality of life of patients. Researchers from the New York University ...

Study finds chewing gum could help fight dental caries

LONDON, UK: Though the relative benefits of chewing gum are often subject to debate, a number of studies have shown that the sugar-free varieties can ...

Anglo-Saxon teeth could help identify modern health issues, study finds

BRADFORD, UK: Unlike bones, children’s teeth continue to grow during periods of undernourishment and record high nitrogen values, providing a kind of ...

Biofilm research could help advance dentistry

MUNICH, Germany: According to experts, biofilms are generally regarded as a problem to be eradicated due to the threats they pose to humans and materials. ...

New study suggests electric toothbrush valuable for paediatric dental care

JERUSALEM, Israel: Electric toothbrushes, particularly those with oscillating-rotating (O-R) movements, have shown superior plaque removal efficacy compared...

Poor oral health associated with a higher risk of liver cancer, study suggests

BELFAST, UK: It remains controversial whether poor oral health is independently linked to the development of gastro-intestinal cancers, because of potential...