Characterization of the occlusal splints using optical fiber sensors

In this work we report the development of a method to characterize occlusal splints using fiber Bragg grating sensors. The occlusal splints are used to treatment for muscle pain resulting from parafunctional habit and or occlusal alterations. The gratings are inserted in to the occlusal splints in order to measure the forces applied to the splints. The analyses are performed in a volunteer with bruxism, in order to obtain the sensibility to the applied load. The analyses of the force distribution in the splint are realized in vivo and the results indicate that the proposed method is a powerful tool for the characterization of occlusal splints.