Bruxism is considered to be the most hurtful among all the activities of the stomatognathic system, being a risk factor to temperomandibular disorders (TMD) and myofascial pain.
As the tightening and/or gnashing of teeth occurs, the consequences arise, such as: dental destruction, periodontal damage, temperomandibular articulation disorder (TMA), damages in the chewing muscles, dental restoration rupture and grinding sounds that may interfere in the family and life partners' sleep.
Its etiology is multifactorial, and many theories were proposed along the years as to the causal factors. In the past, peripheral factors as occlusion discrepancies and deviations in anatomicals were considered to be the main causes of bruxism. Currently the focus is more central. Psychosocial factors, such as stress, anxiety and personality alterations are frequently related to bruxism.
Awake and Sleep Bruxism
Picture 1 - Sleep bruxism
Picture 2 - Awake bruxism
The Hiperboloide as an auxiliary to the bruxism therapy:
Hiperboloide has been used for bruxism treatment for quite some time now as a precious auxiliary.
Once it is used in the periodical exercises and specific prescription, it promotes terminal cumulative residual energy depolarization in the buccal way. This bioenergetic discharge reduces the anxiety status, calming and relaxing the patient. This way, at bed time, the patient will be less tense and may reduce teeth gnashing. It is even more indicated to the teeth tightening, as the awake bruxism is a habit that occurs during the day, with a conscious patient, but it can also occur at night in lower proportions. Instead of tightening the teeth, which, according to researches, can be stronger than a normal chewing activity, causing damages to the masticatory system, the patient would be replacing the tightening with the use of Hiperboloide, reducing the aggressive impulses of bruxism. We also emphasize the use of Hiperboloide in sports, as an emotional discharge instrument, which produces saliva (quality and quantity), that does not allow direct and noxious contact, as the chewing gums that reduce in size as they are chewed. The Hiperboloide straighten the periodontal fibers attenuating emotional discharges, that are recommended by psychological or psychiatric therapies.
Evidences on the efficacy in awake and sleep bruxism treatments have been highlighted in several scientific studies published by several professionals in the Dentistry and Physiotherapy fields.
Some scientific articles published in specialized magazines can be downloaded and checked below:
Scientific articles published on the efficacy of Hiperboloide in Sleep Bruxism treatments.
EXERCISE 1: ALTERNATING BILATERAL MASTICATION
- Indicated for those who present bruxism movements (horizontal).
Masticate with Hiperboloide, passing it through all teeth, with vertical movements and adequate impacts (moderate) with progressive increasing of potency (Picture A) during 5 minutes, 4 times a day. Indicated to straighten the periodontium and for patients with bad occlusion which demand more vertical movements.
Picture A
Exercises for Bruxism with Hiperboloide
Bruxism is a parafunctional activity, which is characterized by gnashing and tightening the teeth. It is a multifactorial psychosomatic dysfunction caused by psychic conflicts and aggravated by bad occlusions (interferences, premature contacts), and can also be a conditioned reflex: gnashing the teeth evokes the myotatic which deflagrates more contraction, maintaining the cycle.
Thus, bruxism is an oral-motor disorder, that can occur during rest or during the day, and the individual can tight and/or gnashing the teeth.
EXERCISE 2: PROTRUSIVE MEDIANS
- Indicated to bruxism and distocclusion patients, strengthen the disocclusion and protrusive activities of the inferior pterygoids.
Put the Hiperboloide in the median, tighten it, slide it, move the jaw forward very slowly, move it back and release (repeat). This exercise must be executed very slowly, and the movement must be repeated 6 times, 4 times a day. The movements must last up to 3 minutes (Picture B)
Picture B
SLEEP BRUXISM
The neuromuscular hyperactivity installed in the jaw elevator muscles in the sleep bruxism case, with gnashing of teeth can be decelerated with periodical exercises executed with Hiperboloide (sizes M and L for adults and S and XS for kids).
EXERCISE 3: LATERO-PROTRUSIVES
– For awake bruxism patients (tightening, prevalent vertical movements).
In the same position (median), tighten the Hiperboloide, and, in the lateral direction, move the jaw, dislocating the Hiperboloide in the median, going as far as possible and stop. Move the jaw back to the median and release (repeat). The movement is repeated 5 times, slowly, 4 times a day, both on right and left sides. The movements must last up to 3 minutes (Picture C)
Picture C
EXERCISE 4: LABIAL FOLD
– Indicated to both sleep and awake bruxism patients, promoting stretching of the labial orbicular belt, while works with the buccinator and constrictor of the pharynx.
The Hiperboloide is put in the labial fold (buccal vestibule) in the median part, where a labial contention is applied. The suction contraction movements must be up, driving the Hiperboloide to the right hemimandibula with quick suction movements up to the last molar. Move it back to the median and execute the same exercise to the left side (repeat), up to 3 minutes, 4 times a day (Picture D).
