Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy and occlusal splints in the treatment of bruxism in children: A systematic review

Untreated sleep bruxism (SB) can cause damage to the stomatognathic system, potentially reducing academic performance in children and negatively affecting their quality of life. Occlusal splints are considered the gold standard for the treatment of bruxism in children; however, they present many limitations, prompting the search for alternative therapies. Laser therapy has been proposed as a more favorable, painless and cost-effective treatment option for pediatric patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and occlusal splints in the treatment of bruxism in children.This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Studies were identified through searches of the following databases: MEDLINE (PubMed®); Google Scholar; and the Cochrane Library. The review included articles published between January 2010 and June 2023. Studies evaluating the treatment of bruxism using occlusal splints and/or PBMT in participants under 18 years of age were included.A total of 67 articles published in English were identified. After applying the eligibility criteria and assessing study quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, 6 studies were included in the final analysis. Of these, 4 investigated various types of occlusal splints, while 2 compared PBMT with occlusal splints. The papers also examined diagnostic methods, treatment outcomes, salivary cortisol levels, and dopamine levels.Occlusal splints have limited effectiveness in managing the signs and symptoms of bruxism. Photobiomodulation therapy shows potential as a treatment method, but its effectiveness remains inconclusive. Due to the limited number of available studies, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn, and further research is necessary.