How Does BruxChecker Work?
BruxChecker is placed over the patient’s dental arch, similar to a mouthguard or occlusal splint.
The film has a red coloration that is pressure-sensitive. When the patient clenches or grinds their teeth during sleep, the applied force wears down or alters the film’s color, revealing exactly where dental contact occurs.
After removing the BruxChecker the following morning, the dentist can analyze the marks to identify bruxism patterns, including intensity, the most affected areas (incisors, canines, molars), and whether the patient tends to clench or grind their teeth laterally.
Advantages of BruxChecker:
- Accurate diagnosis: BruxChecker provides an objective and clear assessment of contact areas and bruxism intensity, offering valuable data for diagnosis.
- Effective monitoring: Useful for both initial diagnosis and tracking patients undergoing treatment, helping to assess the effectiveness of interventions such as occlusal splints.
- Easy to use: BruxChecker is simple to apply and does not cause discomfort to the patient, making it a non-invasive solution for monitoring bruxism.
- Identification of patterns: Helps detect different bruxism patterns, such as static clenching or lateral grinding movements, which can influence the choice of treatment.
When to Use BruxChecker:
- Initial bruxism diagnosis: Especially useful for patients exhibiting signs of bruxism but uncertain about the frequency or intensity of their episodes.
- Treatment monitoring: BruxChecker can be used to assess the effectiveness of treatments such as occlusal splints, muscle relaxants, or behavioral interventions.
- Planning dental treatments: Dentists can use BruxChecker before restorative, orthodontic, or prosthetic treatments to identify risk areas and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Limitations:
- BruxChecker provides information on where and how much the patient is clenching or grinding their teeth but does not indicate when it occurs, particularly concerning sleep phases.
- It does not replace more complex examinations in cases of sleep disorders. In such instances, additional professionals and exams may be required to investigate other sleep-related conditions associated with bruxism, such as sleep apnea.
