Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Bruxism is a predominant behavior in children and is involved in the development of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease and myofacial pain. Bruxism can be classified into; sleep and awake bruxism or primary and secondary bruxism. This habit is characterized by a decrease in mou...

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Main Authors: Mohamed Farouk Rashed, Myasser Ayman Mohamed, Negm Eldin Ragab Mohamed, Maryam El Mansy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05626-x
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author Mohamed Farouk Rashed
Myasser Ayman Mohamed
Negm Eldin Ragab Mohamed
Maryam El Mansy
author_facet Mohamed Farouk Rashed
Myasser Ayman Mohamed
Negm Eldin Ragab Mohamed
Maryam El Mansy
author_sort Mohamed Farouk Rashed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Bruxism is a predominant behavior in children and is involved in the development of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease and myofacial pain. Bruxism can be classified into; sleep and awake bruxism or primary and secondary bruxism. This habit is characterized by a decrease in mouth opening, pain and increased activity of muscles of mastication and loud sounds during sleep. Management includes sleep hygiene, low-level lasers and physical therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pain, mouth opening and muscle activity in children with bruxism after using laser acupuncture versus relaxation physical therapy. Methods Twenty-four children (6–12 years) with a history of bruxism were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 8 individuals each: Group 1: laser acupuncture; Group 2: physical therapy and Group 3: control. At baseline and after 2 months, the visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain (TMJ) score, maximum degree of mouth opening, and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) score were recorded. Results Compared with the control group, the laser and physical therapy groups presented significant differences in pain, maximum number of mouth openings and MVC (p value are 0, 0.005 and 0 respectively). Conclusions Laser acupuncture and physical therapy are promising options for treating SB in children in terms of pain, mouth opening and muscle activity in comparison to sleep hygiene. Trial registration The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on November 12, 2023, with ID: NCT06131879.
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spelling doaj-art-7a35bc7bfdd048459209e3cc70e7d80f2025-08-20T03:05:44ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-03-0125111310.1186/s12903-025-05626-xEvaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trialMohamed Farouk Rashed0Myasser Ayman Mohamed1Negm Eldin Ragab Mohamed2Maryam El Mansy3Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry Department, Oral and Dental Research Institute, National Research CentrePhysical Therapy for Neuromuscular Diseases and Its Surgery, College of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and TechnologyElectrodiagnosis, College of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and TechnologyOrthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry Department, Oral and Dental Research Institute, National Research CentreAbstract Background Bruxism is a predominant behavior in children and is involved in the development of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease and myofacial pain. Bruxism can be classified into; sleep and awake bruxism or primary and secondary bruxism. This habit is characterized by a decrease in mouth opening, pain and increased activity of muscles of mastication and loud sounds during sleep. Management includes sleep hygiene, low-level lasers and physical therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pain, mouth opening and muscle activity in children with bruxism after using laser acupuncture versus relaxation physical therapy. Methods Twenty-four children (6–12 years) with a history of bruxism were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 8 individuals each: Group 1: laser acupuncture; Group 2: physical therapy and Group 3: control. At baseline and after 2 months, the visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain (TMJ) score, maximum degree of mouth opening, and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) score were recorded. Results Compared with the control group, the laser and physical therapy groups presented significant differences in pain, maximum number of mouth openings and MVC (p value are 0, 0.005 and 0 respectively). Conclusions Laser acupuncture and physical therapy are promising options for treating SB in children in terms of pain, mouth opening and muscle activity in comparison to sleep hygiene. Trial registration The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on November 12, 2023, with ID: NCT06131879.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05626-xBruxismChildrenLaserElectromyographyPhysical therapySleep hygiene
spellingShingle Mohamed Farouk Rashed
Myasser Ayman Mohamed
Negm Eldin Ragab Mohamed
Maryam El Mansy
Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial
BMC Oral Health
Bruxism
Children
Laser
Electromyography
Physical therapy
Sleep hygiene
title Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort evaluation of laser acupuncture versus physical therapy intervention in management of bruxism in children a randomized controlled trial
topic Bruxism
Children
Laser
Electromyography
Physical therapy
Sleep hygiene
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05626-x
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