How Sleep Bruxism and Tension Headaches Affect the Masseter Inhibitory Reflex

Luco K

doi:10.4172/2325-9639.1000198

Short Communication, J Sleep Disor Treat Care Vol: 6 Issue: 3

How Sleep Bruxism and Tension Headaches Affect the Masseter Inhibitory Reflex

Luco K^*

President at Luco Hybrid OSA Appliance Inc, University of Alberta, Kingston, Canada

*Corresponding Author : Ken Luco DDS
President at Luco Hybrid OSA Appliance Inc, 1419 Butternut Creek Road, Canada
Tel: 613 888 6019
E-mail: DrLuco@sympatico.ca

Received: March 14, 2017 Accepted: April 11, 2017 Published: April 18, 2017

Citation: Luco K (2017) How Sleep Bruxism and Tension Headaches Affect the Masseter Inhibitory Reflex. J Sleep Disor: Treat Care 6:3. doi: 10.4172/2325-9639.1000198

Abstract

Sleep bruxism (SB) is classified as a repetitive jaw-muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth and/or by bracing or thrusting of the mandible. In recent years, the inhibition of the masseter inhibitory reflex (MIR) has been shown to result in increased bite force during sleep bruxism events. Tension type headaches (TTH) are a hallmark symptom reported by sleep bruxism patients and affect the MIR very similarly to SB.

Keywords: Sleep Bruxism, Headaches, Masseter Inhibitory Reflex

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Short Communication

Sleep bruxism (SB) is classified as a repetitive jaw-muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth and/or by bracing or thrusting of the mandible [1]. In recent years, the inhibition of the masseter inhibitory reflex (MIR) has been shown to result in increased bite force during sleep bruxism events. Tension type headaches (TTH) are a hallmark symptom reported by sleep bruxism patients and affect the MIR very similarly to SB [1-5].

The masseter inhibitory reflex is a cranial reflex consisting of two distinct phases or silent periods termed exteroceptive suppressions (ES1 and ES2) [6]. This reflex is located in the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus of the pons [7]. The first phase of the reflex, ES1, has its afferents located in the periodontal ligaments of the teeth as well as the mental nerve. The 1^st inhibitory nucleus in the mesencephalic nucleus has only a single interneuron connecting it to the ipsilateral trigemenal motor nucleus (TMN), that controls the ipsilateral masseter and temporalis muscles. Normally, ES1 lasts 10-14ms (Figure 1). The 2^nd phase, ES2, has its afferents located in the muscle spindle sensory organs located in the masseter and temporalis muscles. These afferents descend down the lateral trigemenal tract to the second inhibitory interneuron. There are multiple interneurons for ES2 connecting it balaterally to both TMN. Normally, ES2 lasts 40-50 ms⁶ (Figure 2). The result of the activation of the MIR is suppression of the TMN and inhibition of contraction of the masseter and temporalis muscles. This protective reflex is normally inactive and is activated when chewing softer foods and encountering a hard object. The reflex activates, suppressing further contraction of the masseter and temporalis, preventing damage to the oral structures [8-12].

sleep-disorders-treatment-suppression-one

Figure 1: Exteroceptive suppression one.

sleep-disorders-treatment-suppression-two

Figure 2: Exteroceptive suppression two.

In sleep bruxism the ES2 phase and to a lesser extent, the ES1 phase are affected. The ES2 phase is shortened considerably or completely absent, whereas the ES1 phase is advanced slightly and shortened (Figure 2). There are reduced pain thresholds with TTH, relating to the decreased ES2 of the MIR. There is also excitability of the reticular nuclei which inhibit the medullary inhibitory internureons that mediate the ES2 phase of the MIR [2]. The EMG tracings in Figure 3 demostrate the significant reduction or complete abscense of ES2 in sleep bruxism [12].

Figure 3: Demonstration of EMG tracings.

The EMG tracing in Figure 4 compares the ES2 suppression in SB bruxism with the ES2 suppression in TTH. The resulting suppression of the MIR (Figure 4) in TTH is remarkably similar to the suppresion of the MIR in SB, illuminating how SB and TTH are interrelated. This inhibition of the MIR in SB and TTH allows the masseter and temporolis muscles to contract with maxium uninhibited force resulting in the severe damage to teeth, muscles, TMJ and severe tension type headaches seen in SB and TTH [8,12-16].

Figure 4: EMG tracings of ES1 and ES2 with sleep bruxism and tension type headaches.

With oral appliance therapy for SB, the position of the bite is critical. If the bite on the device is placed in the molar region, the MIR will continue to be suppressed (with resulting excessive bite force) whereas if it is placed in the cuspid or incisal region, the MIR is reactivated and the bite force is limited to normal levels [17-20]. In the prototype stage of the Luco Hybrid OSA Appliance (Figure 5), these principles were implimented early on, achieving excellent results. The forward bite effectively reduced the symptoms of SB and TTH within 2 weeks in the majority of cases. This is attributed to the re-activation of the MIR with resulting control of bite force with the cuspid bite, confirming the previous research [10] and verified with EMG home sleep study recording.

This has significant implications in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients who also suffer from SB, as the two commonly occur together. The majority of OSA devices allow molar contact, which in SB maintains the suppression of the MIR. This often results is patient symptoms from SB and TTH. The FDA list the development of TMD as one of the known risks of mandibular advancement appliances in their guidance for these devices. The suppression of the MIR is likely the cause. The relationship between SB and TTH in supression of the MIR is strong. Research has shown that, even in young patients [21-33], this supression occurs, reinforcing the genetic cause [34].

Considering the MIR in the treatment of OSA and SB patients is critical. With a minimum of 8-10% of the population suffering from SB [1] and up to 95% suffering from primary headache [35] (which includes TTH) at some point in their life, this is a significant social problem. SB falls under dental treatment and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine classification of SB [1], states that a sleep study is not essential for a positive diagnosis of sleep bruxism. This puts this treatment in the realm of general dentistry. With the Luco Hybrid device (Figure 5) being the 1^st treatment FDA cleared for the treatment of sleep bruxism/tension-migraine headaches (K160477), there is a safe and effective treatment available that any dentist can easily learn and impliment in their practices.