Abstracts
Bruxing Behaviour
Bruxing Behaviour
Signs and symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) and social medical history were reported in 29 subjects, aged 23-68 years, with longstanding (5 years or more) bruxing behaviour.
The subjects presented many symptoms of a general character including:
somatic and psycho-social problems,
sleep disorders (72%), and
pain (86%).
More than half of the subjects (55%) had symptoms every day. Frequent aches in the neck, back, throat or shoulders were reported by 69% and frequent headache by 48% of the subjects.
The most common symptoms of CMD were pain in the face or jaws (48%), stiffness in the jaws in the morning (44%), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds (34%) and fatigue in the jaws during chewing (38%) and the most common clinical signs were more than three muscles tender on palpation (76%), TMJ-sounds (55%) and tenderness of TMJ on lateral palpation (66%).
More studies are required, especially sleep laboratory investigations, which could perhaps give answers to some of the numerous questions in this unexplored field of odontology.
Kampe T et al., Reported symptoms and clinical findings in a group of subjects with longstanding bruxing behaviour. J Oral Rehabil, 1997 Aug, 24:8, 581-7.
Canadian Survey
Canadian Survey
Of the 2,019 respondents, all over 18 years of "age", 15% reported leg restlessness at bedtime; 10% reported unpleasant leg "muscle" sensations associated with awakening during sleep and with the irresistible need to move or walk. Both these complaints are related to RLS.
The prevalence of RLS-related symptoms increased linearly with age. "Tooth" grinding, a symptom related to sleep bruxism, was reported by 8% of the subjects; in contrast to RLS-related symptoms, the prevalence of tooth grinding decreased linearly with age.
Between 14.5% and 17.3% of the subjects who reported subjective RLS-related symptoms also reported tooth grinding. Conversely, 9.6-10.9% of the tooth grinders reported RLS-related symptoms. These data suggest that both sleep movement disorders can be concomitant and that socio-geographic and age characteristics influence the prevalence of reports.
Lavigne-GJ: "Restless legs syndrome" and sleep bruxism: prevalence and association among Canadians. Sleep. 1994 Dec; 17(8): 739-43.
Etiology (Bruxing)
Etiology
The etiology of bruxism and therefore its management is poorly understood.
Clinical and neurophysiological evidence suggests that there is a strong "link" between bruxism and tooth wear in man and its counterpart in animals. In animals, keeping "teeth" sharp has importance for food retrieval and defense. In man, although this is no longer necessary, remnants of this mechanism remain as an inherited predisposition.
Kleinberg-I: Bruxism: aetiology, clinical signs and symptoms. Aust-Prosthodont-J. 1994; 8: 9-17.
Headaches (Bruxism)
Headaches
Muscle "tension" "headaches" are classified according to the muscle groups involved. Bruxism or temporomandibular "joint"-related headaches involve the muscles of mastication. Frontal headaches are produced by muscles of the forehead and face.
Hendler-N et al: Diagnosis and treatment of muscle tension headaches Physician-Assistant, 1991 Dec; 15(12): 72, 74, 77 passim (42 ref)
Sleep Disorders(Bruxism)
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders can be intrinsic, as are "insomnia" or "narcolepsy", or can be accounted for by external factors, such as noise, altitude, drug or "alcohol" abuse, or shift work. The arousal disorders, common in children, are usually benign and disappear by puberty. Sleep-wake transition disorders such as sleep starts are benign as well, and may occur at any age.
The parasomnias comprise different entities such as nightmares, REM-sleep behavior disorder, sleep enuresis, and bruxism. Diagnosis and treatment often require a multidisciplinary approach.
Virtually every psychiatric, neurologic, or medical disease, when of sufficient severity, leaves its specific fingerprint on sleep; some disorders, such as peptic "ulcer" disease, gastroesophageal reflux, or "epilepsy", tend to be "exacerbated" during sleep.
Therapy can include: behavioral therapy, counseling, cautious drug therapy, or light therapy.
Barthlen-GM & Stacy-C: Dyssomnias, parasomnias, and sleep disorders associated with medical and psychiatric diseases. Mt-Sinai-J-Med. 1994 Mar; 61(2): 139-59.
Treatment Approaches
Treatment Approaches
Bruxism, or the grinding and clenching of teeth, occurs in approximately 15 percent of children and in as many as 96 percent of adults.
Signs of teeth grinding include: headaches, masticatory "pain" or "fatigue", oral "infection", tooth sensitivity and attrition, and temporomandibular joint disorders. Signs of bruxism include tooth wear and mobility, as well as tender or hypertrophied masticatory muscles and "joints".
Children with bruxism are usually managed with observation and reassurance. Adults may be managed with "stress" reduction therapy, alteration of sleep positioning, drug therapy, biofeedback training, physical therapy and dental evaluation.
Thompson-BA et al: Treatment approaches to bruxism. Am-Fam-Physician. 1994 May 15; 49(7): 1617-22.
| Signup Free Applied Health Journal |
||||
|
FREE Sample Issue Your email address is all we need to start you on a better path to health. We respect your privacy.
|
