Introduction: Objective evaluation of sleep bruxism (SB) using whole-night polysomnography (PSG) is relevant for diagnostic confirmation. Nevertheless, the PSG electromyogram
(EMG) scoring may give rise to controversy, particularly when audiovisual monitoring is
not performed. Therefore, the present study assessed the concordance between two
independent scorers to visual SB on a PSG performed without audiovisual monitoring.
Methods: Fifty-six PSG tests were scored from individuals with clinical history and
polysomnography criteria of SB. In addition to the protocol of conventional whole-night
PSG, electrodes were also placed bilaterally on the masseter and temporal muscles. Visual
EMG scoring without audio video monitoring was scored by two independent scorers
(Dentist 1 and Dentist 2) according the recommendations formulated in the AASM manual
(2007). Kendall Tau correlation was used to assess interobserver concordance relative to
variables “total duration of events (seconds), “shortest events”, “longest events” and index
in each phasic, tonic or mixed event.
Results: The correlation was positive and significant relative to all the investigated
variables, being T40.54.
Conclusion: It was found a good inter-examiner concordance rate in SB scoring in absence of audio video monitoring