Evaluation of the effects of dry needling and intramuscular electrical stimulation methods on masseter muscle by ultrasonography in bruxism patients

The aim of this thesis study is to evaluate the effectiveness of intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) and dry needling (DN) methods, which we use for treatment purposes in individuals with bruxism, using ultrasonography. Our study included 30 patients with bruxism and 98 healthy individuals who did not have any muscle joint disorders such as bruxism. 30 individuals with bruxism were randomly divided into 2 groups. Intramuscular electrical stimulation was applied to one group and dry needling treatment was applied to the other. The results obtained were compared among themselves and with the control group. The female population was predominant in the bruxism group of our study. The average age of the patient individuals was 28.73±10.833 years in the IMES group and 32.33±9.839 years in the DN group. When muscle thickness was evaluated in both treatment methods, it was observed that the muscle thickness had a significantly lower average than the control group in the 2nd and 5th sessions, especially in the masseter muscle measurements made when the right masseter muscle was contracted (p˂0.001). When the fractal dimension was evaluated, it was seen that the fractal dimension was higher in individuals with bruxism and the fractal dimension decreased after treatment. In addition, the VAS score measured from the patients at the beginning of each session decreased as the sessions increased in both treatment groups (p˂0.001). There were changes in muscle echogenicity measurements, which examine the internal structure of the muscle, before and after the treatment. IMES and DN methods are reliable, low-complication and effective treatment methods in the treatment of bruxism. IMES treatment, for which there is no data regarding its use in the treatment of bruxism, has been found to be very effective in relieving the symptoms of bruxism.