Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Potential Use in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Bruxism.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to introduce transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to dental practitioners and to explain its use in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep bruxism (SB). In these 2 sleep disorders, TMS has proven to be a useful tool to explore pathophysiological pathways and disease mechanisms, and in a more limited way, to recruit upper airway muscles in OSA and reduce muscle activity and pain intensity in SB. Although promising, research using TMS in these conditions is still very limited and future investigations should be conducted before its clinical application can be considered.