Needles vs. night guards: which eases Jaw-Grinding pain best?

NCT ID NCT07511335

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Kocaeli University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at two treatments for jaw pain caused by teeth grinding (bruxism) and related muscle pain. Forty adults either got a custom mouth splint to wear most of the day or had thin needles inserted into their jaw muscles (dry needling) in three weekly sessions. Researchers measured pain, how wide they could open their mouth, and quality of life over six months to see which approach helped more.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: dry needling (acupuncture-like procedure) and stabilization splint (mouth guard)
What this could lead to: If one treatment works better, it could give doctors a clearer choice for easing jaw pain and improving mouth opening in people who grind their teeth.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with only 40 people, so results may not apply to everyone. Also, patients chose their treatment, which can bias the findings.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

bruxism myofascial pain syndrome temporomandibular joint disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BRUXISM DRY NEEDLING STABILIZATION SPLINT

Contacts and locations

Locations

Kocaeli University

Kocaeli, Turkey (Türkiye)

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