Daniele Manfredini

Objective The Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) concept was the basis for developing a smartphone application for the real‐time report of awake bruxism (AB) activities. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the EMA with a randomised controlled trial designed to compare the frequency of AB reported in two separate single observation points between a group of students monitored over time with an EMA smartphone application and a non‐EMA monitored group. Methods Sixty‐four ( N = 64) dental students (22.3 YO [±2.6]; 52F; 12 M) answered the Oral Behaviour Checklist (OBC‐1) and were randomised into an EMA‐group (EG) and control group (CG). EG were monitored with a smartphone application for AB report during seven consecutive days and completed three EMA monitoring periods (EMA‐1, 2 and 3) at one‐month intervals. After the third period (EMA−3), both EG and CG answered again the OBC (OBC–2). Descriptive statistics were performed to characterise the sample. Pearson's chi‐squared test, Fixer Exact test and post hoc Z test with Bonferroni correction were performed. The study hypothesis was that EMA could influence the AB reported by the participants because it implies an increase in the awareness, self‐recognition, and self‐control of bruxism behaviours. The level of significance was set at p < .05. Result The percentage of participants who changed the report of the activity of clenching their teeth while awake between OBC‐1 and OBC‐2 was significantly higher among participants in EG, when compared to CG ( p = .027). For all other behaviours reported the within‐ and between‐group differences from OBC‐1 to OBC‐2 were not significant. Clenching and bracing were the most frequently reported, whilst grinding was the less frequent behaviour. Conclusion A smartphone‐based EMA approach demonstrated be useful to monitor AB over time, increasing individual's awareness, particularly to bracing and clenching behaviours.