title: Influence of bruxism and splint therapy on tongue pressure against teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study estimated the maximum tongue pressure (MTP) against teeth in bruxers, and verified the effect of a stabilization splint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty subjects (mean age: 26.57 years) were assigned to two groups (n520): bruxers and nonbruxers. Sleep bruxism was diagnosed by self-report, presence of tooth wear and tongue indentation, and by using a BiteStrip2 device. Maximum tongue pressure was measured by intraoral appliances containing pressure sensors. After baseline evaluation, bruxers received a stabilization splint and non-bruxers received a palatal splint, both for nocturnal use. Maximum tongue pressure was reassessed after 30 and 60 days. Data were submitted to repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey test (Pv0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bruxers showed an increased MTP against teeth (Pv0.05). Splint therapy decreased MTP for bruxers and non-bruxers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bruxers present tongue indentations or ulcerations; however, there is no evidence on their MTP. Further research should focus on therapies to avoid tongue ulcerations in bruxers.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology , Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas , Av. Limeira, no 901, Bairro Areia˜ o, Sa˜o Paulo, Piracicaba , CEP 13414-903 , Brazil.
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology , Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas , Av. Limeira, no 901, Bairro Areia˜ o, Sa˜o Paulo, Piracicaba , CEP 13414-903 , Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cunha Matheus Rodrigues Garcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D020186:Sleep Bruxism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013165:Splints / Q000009:adverse effects; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014070:Tooth; D014456:Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bruxism; Clenching; Oral function; Parafunction; Quantitative evaluation; Splint; Tongue indentation; Tongue pressure