Bruxism management relies on the recognition of the potential causative factors associated with the development of bruxism.

Diurnal bruxism can be managed by considering interventions such as habit modification, relaxation therapy, biofeedback.

In patients with sleep bruxism, which does not appear to be impacted by psychological or psychosocial factors, appropriate intervention might include appliance therapy.

In patients with medication or drug-induced bruxism, medication withdrawal or substitution should be considered. If street drugs are being used, intervention should include psychological counseling [6][5].

Bruxism occurring in patients with neurogenic abnormalities such as dystonia may benefit from botox injection of the mastication muscles, which seems to decrease the frequency of the parafunctional activity, but concerns have been raised regarding plausible adverse effects. Dietary counseling and management may be essential in some cases, such as excessive use of caffeine and tobacco.

Nocturnal or sleep bruxism is not usually cured by an intervention [7]. The behavior is likely to diminish with age. On the other hand, daytime bruxism can often be eliminated via intervention, suggesting a cure, but recrudescence of the condition is common.

Methods to Manage Bruxism

Occlusal adjustments

Premature contacts or occlusal interferences have been associated with the development of bruxism in some studies in the past. There are professionals that still believe that occlusal adjustments are required in the management of bruxism. But, there seems to be no basis in evidence for irreversible occlusal adjustments in the management of bruxism. The etiology of the disorder is mainly regulated centrally, not peripherally [5][4].

Equilibration Therapy

The proposed idea that bruxism may be due to malocclusion makes orthodontic treatments viable options in the management of the condition. But, this is still a controversy among dental clinicians and researchers [4].

Occlusal Splints 

Occlusal splints are worn at night to guide the movement so that the periodontal damage is minimal. The appliance covers either all of the maxillary or mandibular teeth. But it is mostly worn in the upper maxilla. Occlusal splints are generally appreciated to prevent tooth wear, injuries, and reduce nighttime clenching. Splints should cover the occlusal surfaces of all the teeth. With the use of a splint, there will be some reduction in muscle tone. The appliance that helps manage the consequences of nocturnal bruxism is the flat-planed stabilization splint, also called occlusal bite guard, bruxism appliance, biteplate, or nightguard.

Appliances vary in appearance and features. They may be constructed in the dental office or a laboratory and fabricated from hard or soft materials. Hard acrylic-resin stabilization splints are suggested to be more effective in reducing bruxism activity than soft splints. Soft-resin splints are more difficult to adjust than the hard acrylic-resin devices, and to prevent inadvertent tooth movements [4]. Also, some professionals believe that soft splints increase the clenching behavior in some patients.

These appliances are also utilized to retrain daytime clenching.

Psychotherapy

Bruxism may often be related to stress. Psychotherapeutic approaches should be made to foster calmness. Patient counseling can lead to a decrease in tension and also create awareness of the habit. This will increase voluntary control and thus reducing parafunctional movements.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy may be recommended if bruxism is associated with muscle pain and stiffness.

Relaxation Training

In this method, the patient is trained to relax the muscle group voluntarily.

Restorative Treatment

If there is severe attrition associated with bruxism, then endodontic therapy, where necessary, is recommended. Composite restorations or full-coverage crowns, depending on each case, restore vertical dimension and function.

Drugs

The use of drugs in the treatment of bruxism should be limited to short periods and severe cases where occlusal devices and psychological approaches were ineffective [4].

Pharmacological management includes the use of antianxiety agents, tranquilizers, sedatives, and muscle relaxants. Medications such as diazepam can be prescribed for a few days to alter the sleep disturbance and anxiety level. Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants may be used to inhibit the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Biofeedback

This technique utilizes positive feedback to enable the patient to learn tension reduction. It is based on the idea that bruxers can unlearn their behavior. It is accomplished by allowing the patient to view an electromyography (EMG) monitor while the mandible is postured with a minimum of activity. For nocturnal bruxism, auditory, vibratory, or taste stimuli may be used [4].

Electrical Method

Electrogalvanic stimulation for muscle relaxation is currently used for the treatment of bruxism.

Complications of bruxism are wide-ranging. When occlusal forces of high intensity and duration overcome the body's adaptive capacity, a stomatognathic breakdown will occur, and the consequences of bruxism will appear. To mentions some, tooth wear, tooth hypersensitivity, tooth mobility, pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw musculature, temporal headache, and poor sleep. Indentation on the surface of the tongue, the presence of linea alba along the biting plane of the buccal mucosa, and gingival recessions are also clinical signs of this parafunctional habit [8][9].

Bruxism may be associated with other parafunctional activities such as cheek biting or lip biting. There will be hypertrophy of masseter muscle accompanied by tenderness or fatigue of masticatory muscles. There will be tenderness of TMJ, which may manifest as otalgia.

In summary, the recommended approach of bruxism management includes three angles, the use of occlusal splints preferable the hard acrylic-resin devices, which in any case, work more as a protector of the teeth preventing further damage. A behavioral approach to increase the patient’s awareness of the disorder, relaxation, lifestyle, and sleep hygiene instructions.

And the use of drugs should be limited to short periods and to severe cases where occlusal devices and psychological methods were ineffective [4].

Because bruxism is a multifactorial condition, an interprofessional team including dentists, mental health nurses, pediatricians, primary caregivers, neurologists, and psychotherapists, should work together to achieve a better approach and management of the disease and improve patients' quality of life.

Bruxism management relies on the recognition of potential causative factors. Nocturnal bruxism is usually not cured by an intervention. The behavior possibly diminishes with age.

The outlook for most patients is guarded; despite treatment in many cases, the condition recurs [10]. (Level V)