BruxCare Inc. has announced the availability of GrindAlert(TM), a patented sense-and-signal device that offers a breakthrough alternative for the millions of people who suffer from the painful and destructive effects of nighttime teeth grinding. This sophisticated technology offers relief for the estimated 20 percent of Americans who suffer from bruxism (nighttime teeth grinding) and temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Treatment for these disorders costs Americans over $2 billion each year. BruxCare made the announcement during the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston.
GrindAlert is a battery-powered sensing device incorporated into a lightweight, adjustable headband that senses facial muscle activity specifically related to teeth clenching and grinding, then signals the patient to stop by emitting an audible tone. GrindAlert is based upon proven electromyographic methodology (EMG) that measures the electrical output of targeted muscles.
"Doctors have known for years that the technology underlying GrindAlert is effective in stopping patients from grinding their teeth," said BruxCare CEO Nicholas Kondon. "However, this method was only practical in sleep lab settings. GrindAlert brings the technology home."
In Diagnostic Mode, GrindAlert records the number and duration of bruxing events on an LCD display and provides the clinician with valuable data for monitoring treatment. In Conditioning Mode, GrindAlert signals the patient to stop grinding by emitting a gentle tone.
"Teeth grinding can lead to premature wear, tooth fractures, and eventually tooth loss," said Herbert I. Bader, DDS. "Until GrindAlert, dentists had to rely on a series of costly, custom-fitted nightguards to protect patients' teeth from further destruction," Bader said. "And while nightguards block the damage caused by bruxism, they can't stop the habit. GrindAlert addresses the underlying problem."
GrindAlert is a low-cost, non-invasive technological breakthrough that offers hope to patients suffering from bruxism and TMD. An independent evaluation by multiple clinicians found GrindAlert stopped bruxing in a majority of patients. Leading investigators described GrindAlert as safe, comfortable and easy-to-use.
GrindAlert is now available through dentists and physicians worldwide. For more information, call toll-free (888) 278-9668, visit the company's Web site at www.bruxcare.com, or email [email protected].
