Objective: The Objective of this study was to evaluate the improvement of reducing the pain of patients diagnosed with masticatory myofascial pain and bruxism, when undergoing treatment with a partial posterior interocclusal device (DIVA®) designed for the management and control of awake bruxism through biofeedback.

Methods: One hundred and sixty patients were evaluated during the periods: pre-treatment, seven, thirty, ninety, one hundred and sixty days and one year. The evaluation was carried out by measuring the pain (VAS) and reduction in pain using clinical and numerical scales.

Results: The majority of the patients who complained of masticatory myofascial pain, TMJ and neck pain experienced a significant reduction in pain between t0 and t30 (p< 0. 0001). After 30 days of using the device, it was observed that the improvement remained at the same level, without any recurrence of pain up to t90. At t180 and t360 it was observed that even with the device withdrawal (at t90) the improvement remained at the same level suggesting that the patients succedded to control their awake bruxism. 

Conclusion: The utilization of a posterior interocclusal device designed for the management and control of awake bruxism through biofeedback contributed to the reduction of pain in the majority of patients and that even with the device withdrawal (at t90) the improvement remained at the same level suggesting that the patients succedded to control their awake bruxism.

A NEW BIOFEEDBACK APPROACH FOR THE CONTROL OF THE MASSETER AND TEMPORAL MYALGIA: UTILIZATION OF AN AWAKE POSTERIOR INTEROCCLUSAL DEVICE