Dental prescale and patients with nocturnal bruxism from 406 patients with signs and symptoms balance. Kurita et al22 suggested that the use of of craniomandibular disorders and concluded the stabilization splint has the effect of reducing that bruxism, present in 35.9% of his patient hyperactivity and asymmetry in the activity of the population, was a major causative factor. Rugh jaw elevator muscles, and consequently brings and Harlan18 reviewed the effects of nocturnal a stable and physiologically optimal occlusal bruxism on TMDs and concluded that this habit force from the muscles. They suggested that the can cause significant damage to every part of decreased masticatory muscle activity with the the masticatory apparatus. Patients complaining use of the splint was responsible for the decrease of any symptoms of temporomandibular joint in the area of each occlusion point. (TMJ) disorders were not included in this study In the light of this data, it may be possible because many conditions can produce signs and to comment on muscle activity regarding the symptoms similar to those of temporomandibular changes in occlusal contact area and bite force. joint (TMJ) disorders. Numerous studies have been conducted on the Solberg et al19 reported that nocturnal changes in muscle activity of bruxism patients. masseteric muscle activity, as measured by However, these studies may be interpreted as electromyography, was reduced immediately after impractical due to time wasted during these the insertion of a full arch maxillary stabilization studies and the equipment requirements. splint. Lobbezoo et al20 and Visser et al21 reported Therefore, this study has been conducted using a a decrease in temporal muscle activity after the “Dental Prescale” which may produce extremely insertion of the stabilization splint. It was also practical and objective results. reported that the stabilization splint caused In our study, we have observed that the occlusal improvement in the masseter muscular activity contact area and bite force decreased in patients Figure 5. VAS scores of group S. Figure 6. VAS scores of group A. Table 3. Mean bite force (newton) and occlusal contact area (square millimeter) of the patients and control group. Groups Group A Group S Group C N 5 5 10 Time BT BT 1 month 3 months 1 month 3 months Bite force (Newton) Occlusal contact area (mm2) Mean 827.00 1158.22 1106.58 793.82 533.30 413.46 773.24 SD 620.89 566.10 630.29 352.16 288.31 99.64 194.44 Mean 26.04 33.63 35.80 22.44 15.89 10.08 20.75 SD 17.82 15.45 17.53 11.17 8.05 3.40 5.98 280 BT: Before Treatment, SD: Standart Deviation European Journal of Dentistry