Martin Ågren

My research project looks at how temporarily blocking certain jaw muscle functions affects teeth grinding (bruxism) and overall jaw health. The goal is to contribute to specialist fields in dentistry, such as prosthodontics (dental prostheses) and oral rehabilitation.

The project focuses on the growing problem of tooth wear in Sweden. When teeth wear down, it can lead to pain, discomfort, and expensive dental treatments.

As part of my work, I will:

• study how common severe tooth wear has been in a Swedish city population over the last 50 years and examine how social and economic factors influence treatment,
• investigate how often people with tooth wear grind their teeth while awake versus when asleep,
• explore how bruxism affects jaw and muscle function, such as how wide the jaw can open, how the brain and chewing muscles work together, the size and activity of these muscles, and how strong the bite can be.
• I will follow patients with suspected bruxism over time — some who receive botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT-A) injections in the chewing muscle (masseter) to reduce activity, and others who do not. I will also check for any short- or long-term side effects of this treatment.

By answering these questions, my project could lead to better treatment strategies, improved patient outcomes, and possibly entirely new ways of helping people who grind their teeth and suffer from tooth wear.