Polini F, Budai R. Multimodal transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation: An option in the treatment of sleep bruxism in a "polyvagal" context.
Cranio 2022:1-9. [PMID:
35322755 DOI:
10.1080/08869634.2022.2055866]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To consider the possible role of the vagus nerve (VN) in the pathophysiology of sleep bruxism (SB) and introduce a multimodal protocol of transcutaneous auricular stimulation of the VN in the treatment of SB patients.
METHODS
Ten patients with SB underwent four sessions of electric transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) in specific auricular areas. The patients were advised to manually stimulate the same areas between sessions. Masticatory muscle activity and sleep parameters were measured by a polysomnography (PSG) before and after the treatment. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were measured during each stimulation.
RESULTS
PSG analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in tonic SB index and tonic contraction time. HRV parameters showed a statistically significant increase in mean values of the vagal tone after each session of stimulation. No side effect was reported.
CONCLUSION
The stimulation of the VN might have a role in the treatment of SB.
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