In recent years, bruxism has garnered increasing interest both in clinical and research fields due to its multiple clinical implications and its prevalence in the population. At the same time, the demand for orthodontic treatments has significantly increased in recent decades, particularly among adults, who are increasingly seeking aesthetic treatments with aligners. Therefore, the purpose of this report will be to delve into the topic of bruxism and temporomandibular disorders from the orthodontist's perspective through the discussion of clinical cases treated with fixed or removable appliances. 

Sleep disorders affect one in five people, with over 90 recognized types, including nocturnal bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and snoring. The dentist plays a crucial role in the diagnostic screening phase and therapeutic management of these disorders. Thanks to modern technologies, clinicians can use advanced tools to perform polysomnography and electromyography to accurately complete the diagnostic process. Patients with dental wear, orofacial pain, or symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) may suffer from OSAS, nocturnal bruxism, or both conditions. In these complex cases, accurate instrumental and differential diagnosis is essential to develop an integrated and personalized therapeutic approach.

The report generated by the dia-BRUXO system also includes the entire EMG graph recorded during the exam, which is easy to read once its features are understood. This session highlights the basics for reading and interpreting the graph correctly.

In legal medicine, there are various aspects that dentistry must comply with regarding all bruxism patients. This meeting focuses on what can and should be done to demonstrate correct action according to law, underlining the importance of the dia-BRUXO system in such cases.

The dia-BRUXO system provides a range of information on spontaneous muscular behaviour over 24 hours (time index, work index, number of gnashing and clenching episodes, etc.), summarized in a PDF report that is easy to interpret for both professionals and patients. This meeting focuses on its correct reading.

The dia-BRUXO system is currently the only instrumental exam capable of providing data on spontaneous muscular behaviour, distinguishing between sleep and wakefulness. It consists of an EMG device and dedicated software that will be illustrated in this session.

It is now well-known that bruxism in sleep and wakefulness are two very different phenomena with respect to origin, evolution, and treatment. In this session, the official definition for both will be presented, along with their separate analysis, distinguishing the underlying causes and treatment.

With electromyography, it is possible to understand patients' muscular activity. Polysomnograms, polygraphs, chairside scans, and dia-BRUXO all rely on this technology, which is useful in diagnostics and therapeutic clinical activities, as well as treatment verification.

This session presents an overall view of the usefulness of having a precise picture of spontaneous muscular activity over 24 hours (sleep and wakefulness). It starts with general notions on electromyography and its use in dentistry and presents the other specific topics addressed in the individual dedicated webinars, which will be available in the future.