Validation of the Bitestrip versus polysomnography in the diagnosis of patients with a clinical history of sleep bruxism

Objective. This validation study compared an electromyography (EMG) device, Bitestrip, versus polysomnography in the diagnosis of sleep bruxism (SB). Study design. Forty-nine consecutive patients (32 women and 17 men, 41.2 +/- 12.9 years old) with a clinical history of SB were included in the study from the Orofacial Pain Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Results. Initially, we compared an SB positive/negative test result for both systems (agreement 87.8%, sensitivity 84.2%, positive predictive value 100%, and crude kappa 0.71). We then compared a 4-scale test (no, light, moderate, or severe bruxism) between the 2 methods (agreement 80.27%, weighted kappa 0.51, and Kendall W coefficient 0.575). Conclusions. The Bitestrip can be considered as a moderate screening method for the diagnosis of SB, because it is more precise in detecting the presence or absence of SB but less precise in detecting its intensity. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2012;113:612-617)