Psychic and occlusal factors in bruxers

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of associations between bruxism and psychic and occlusal factors. Methods: Participants in this study (n=85) were recruited from the Section of Odontostomatology, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Italy. They were split into two groups, bruxers (n=34) and non-bruxers (n=51), on the basis of the presence of both clinical and anamnestical indicators of bruxism. All participants were administered two self-reported validated questionnaires to evaluate mood (MOODS-SR) and panic-agoraphobic (PAS-SR) spectra. A number of occlusal variables (deepbite, cross-bite, open-bite, mediotrusive and laterotrusive interferences, slide RCP-ICP, laterotrusive guides, canine and molar classes) were also recorded. Results: With regards to occlusal factors, the only association was revealed between bruxism mediotrusive interferences (p<0.05). As for psychiatric investigation, significant differences between bruxers and controls emerged for the presence of both depressive (p<0.01) and manic symptoms (p<0.01) in MOODS-SR, and for stress sensitivity (p<0.01), anxious expectation (p<0.05), and reassurance sensitivity symptoms (p<0.05) in PAS-SR. In particular, both mood (p<0.01) and panic-agoraphobic (p<0.05) spectra symptoms seem to differentiate bruxers from controls in males, while in females strong differences emerged for stress sensitivity symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusions: It can be confirmed that certain psychic traits are present in bruxers, while occlusal factors are not useful parameters to discern bruxers from non-bruxers.

To see bruxism: a functional MRI study

“…Many practitioners believe that bruxism is caused by psychological stress, but such statements are not strongly evidence based. 4,5 The majority of patients with sleep bruxism represent any associated medical or psychiatric conditions (idiopathic or primary bruxism), while patients with daytime bruxism have been reported to depict basal ganglia infarction, multisystem atrophy, cervical dystonia, or use and deprivation of some drugs (secondary bruxism). 6,7 There are various explanations on the aetiology and pathophysiology of this disorder in literature, but none of them is confirmed or disproved scientifically, yet.…”

Prevalence and potential factors associated with probable sleep or awake bruxism and dentin hypersensitivity in undergraduate students

“…One study estimated that 20% of the population has bruxism during wakefulness and 10% during sleep, occurring most frequently in adolescents and declining with age. Some studies have shown that there is no difference between sexes 3,4 , while others have reported a higher prevalence in women 5,6 .…”

Bruxism

“…To mogu biti pojedini medicinski poremećaji, poput Parkinsonove i Hantingtonove bolesti, trauma i loših navika. Okidač za bruksizam mogu biti teška zdravstvena stanja kao što su digestivni poremećaji, uznemirenost, neuroze, depresija, hipermiotonija izazvana amfetaminom i lekovima sličnim njemu [3].…”

“…To mogu biti pojedini medicinski poremećaji, poput Parkinsonove i Hantingtonove bolesti, trauma i loših navika. Okidač za bruksizam mogu biti teška zdravstvena stanja kao što su digestivni poremećaji, uznemirenost, neuroze, depresija, hipermiotonija izazvana amfetaminom i lekovima sličnim njemu [3].Među navedenim faktorima posebno treba istaći stres, frustraciju, srdžbu i agresivnost, probleme koji prate ži-vot savremenog čoveka. Smatra se da je oko 70% slučajeva bruksizma povezano sa stresom i anksioznošću.…”