Microstructural investigation of masticatory muscles: a pre- and post-treatment diffusion tensor imaging study in a bruxism case.

We evaluated, by means of a non-invasive procedure based on MRI, the masticatory muscular microstructure in a 55-year-old-female patient affected by bruxism. The patient underwent MR examination before and after 1 month of splint therapy, when she mentioned the complete disappearance of all symptoms. By means of diffusion tensor imaging we observed changes at microstructural level of masticatory muscular complex. We conclude that diffusion tensor imaging may be a useful instrument both to perform panoramic reconstruction of the masticatory muscle complex and to investigate microstructural modifications related to the pain relief in bruxism.