Botulinum Toxin-A for Bruxism Using Digital Occlusal Analysis

Bruxism is a repetitive jaw‐muscle activity characterized by clenching and/or grinding ofthe teeth and is associated with various oral and craniofacial consequences, includingtooth wear, muscle pain, headaches, and temporomandibular disorders. Recent internationalconsensus statements define bruxism as a motor behavior rather than a disease entity,emphasizing the need for multidimensional assessment approaches.Current diagnostic methods primarily rely on self‐reported symptoms and clinicalfindings. However, self‐reports may be affected by recall bias and limited awareness,while clinical signs often reflect cumulative tissue changes rather than ongoingfunctional activity. Although electromyography and polysomnography can provide objectiveinformation regarding masticatory muscle activity, their routine clinical use is limitedby cost, technical complexity, and accessibility.Digital occlusal analysis systems have emerged as promising tools for the objectiveevaluation of occlusal force characteristics. These technologies allow quantitativeassessment of bite force distribution, occlusal timing, and force balance, potentiallyproviding indirect information about masticatory muscle function. Despite theirincreasing clinical use, the role of digital occlusal analysis systems in the diagnosisand longitudinal monitoring of bruxism remains insufficiently investigated.Botulinum Toxin‐A (BTX‐A) has been increasingly used for the management of bruxismbecause of its ability to reduce masticatory muscle activity through inhibition ofacetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. Previous studies have demonstratedreductions in bite force and symptom severity following BTX‐A treatment. However, mostavailable studies have focused on subjective outcomes or lacked placebo‐controlleddesigns and objective functional measurements.This study was designed to address these gaps by investigating whether digital occlusalanalysis can serve as an objective tool for evaluating bruxism and monitoring therapeuticresponse. The findings may contribute to the development of more objective diagnostic andfollow‐up strategies for bruxism while providing additional evidence regarding thefunctional effects of Botulinum Toxin‐A treatment.