SMARTSPLINT:BRUXISM OR TEETH grinding is a common problem that wears down the teeth and can cost a lot of money in remedial dentistry to repair. Apart from damaging teeth it can also cause headaches and jaw pain and is often mistakenly diagnosed as a toothache.

There is currently no formal test to diagnose bruxism or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. An experienced dentist will recognise the signs but has no way of knowing if a case falls into the mild, moderate or serious category.

At present sufferers are usually provided with a shield or “splint” which is worn at night to protect the teeth. The problem is compliance – splints are not the most attractive sleepwear and people stop using them.

Prosthodontist and TCD researcher Dr Padraig McAuliffe is in the final stages of developing SmartSplint, which he hopes will make patients more compliant and help dentists diagnose and treat bruxism more effectively. SmartSplint is a miniature sensing device that can be embedded into existing splints to measure bite force. It records the force (which can be considerable) and grinding pattern and the treating dentist can evaluate how serious the problem is and take action to protect vulnerable teeth.

It will also be possible to use the data to show patients on a screen how their nocturnal habit is affecting their teeth. McAuliffe believes that seeing is believing and that bruxism sufferers will be far more willing to wear their splint at night once they have seen the damage.

McAuliffe specialises in fitting crowns, bridges and implants and frequently sees cases of bruxism.

“Bruxism represents a severe risk to the teeth in the long term and I was interested in finding a way to better manage the condition,” he says. “The SmartSplint can be used both for the diagnosis of and long-term monitoring of bruxism.”

McAuliffe has received funding from Enterprise Ireland to develop the technology and he hopes that once regulatory approval has been received he will be able to launch the SmartSplint internationally in 2012. He is now keen to bring commercial management expertise on board to make this happen.