Associations between sleep bruxism and (peri-) implant complications: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES/AIMS: To describe the protocol of a prospective cohort study designed to answer the question: ‘Is sleep bruxism a risk factor for (peri-)implant complications?’. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study is a single-centre, double-blind, prospective cohort study with a follow-up time of 2 years. Ninety-eight participants fulfilling inclusion criteria (planned treatment with implant-supported fixed suprastructure(s) and age 18 years or older) will be included. Sleep bruxism will be monitored at several time points as masticatory muscle activity during sleep by means of a portable single-channel electromyographic device. Our main outcomes are biological complications (i.e., related to peri-implant bleeding, probing depth, marginal bone height, quality of submucosal biofilm and loss of osseointegration) and technical complications (i.e., suprastructure, abutment, implant body or other). RESULTS: The study is currently ongoing, and data are being gathered. DISCUSSION: The results of this prospective cohort study will provide important information for clinicians treating bruxing patients with dental implants. Furthermore, it will contribute to the body of evidence related to the behaviour of dental implants and their complications under conditions of high mechanical loadings that result from sleep bruxism activity. CONCLUSION: The protocol of a prospective cohort study designed to investigate possible associations between sleep bruxism and (peri-) implant complications was presented.