An innovative shock treatment for bruxism is gaining increasing acceptance in Europe. Medtech’s Grindcare, launched early this year, is now being trialled in the UK.

Bruxism can cause jaw pain, tense muscles and headaches along with excessive wear on the teeth. More than 20 million people in Europe and the US are estimated to suffer from bruxism. Up to now the only recognised treatment for the condition has been an occlusal splint, also called a bite splint, a type of mouth guard that reduces the frictional damage on the teeth.

Medotech's new product Grindcare is a different device altogether, consisting of a headband with built-in electrodes, a microprocessor and a display. Grindcare is designed to detect the movement pattern in the jaw that leads to bruxism. When the movement is detected, Grindcare sends out a low-grade electrical pulse to relax the muscle and stop it from tensing. According to Medotech's website, repeated use of Grindcare can “teach” the muscle to relax on its own, thereby reducing the need for the device over time.

Treatment with Grindcare does not affect the sleep pattern of patients suffering from Bruxism. Patients and professionals can track the effect of treatment on a daily basis. Patients can rent the device from dentist at a nominal fee before making the decision to buy one for themselves.

Clinical studies have documented that Grindcare can reduce bruxism by more than 50 percent within 3 weeks and up to 80 percent after 6-8 weeks.