• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.23-26
• /
• 2005

Bruxism is defined as 'diurnal or nocturnal parafunctional activity including clenching, bracing, gnashing, and grinding of the teeth'. Bruxism and clenching are two of the most common contributing factors in patients with temporomandibular disorders and craniofacial pain disorders. Even though many studies report the high prevalence of bruxism, its cause is still not clear. Occlusal interference has been regarded as a major etiologic factor. Nowadays, psychological stress and sleeping disorders are generally regarded as major possible etiologic factors. More than likely, the cause is multifactoral and overlapping, which makes it difficult for the practitioner to apply comprehensive and effective management strategies. Although dentists and psychologists generally believe that effective treatment is best achieved with a better understanding of the etiology of a given disorder, for now treatment for this type of disorder must proceed without a clear understanding of etiology. To overcome this obstacle, evidence-based comprehensive management protocols based on accumulated scientific findings should be provided. In this presentation, epidemiology, etiology, and the characteristics of bruxism are reviewed. Diagnostic procedures and management strategies focused on occlusal appliances and behavioral approaches are also discussed.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.586-591
• /
• 2002

Bruxism can be generally regarded as a diurnal clenching or nocturnal teeth grinding or a combination of both. Clenching of the teeth is forceful closure of the opposing dentition in a static relationship of the mandible to the maxilla, whereas grinding of the dentition is forceful closure of the opposing dentition in a dynamic maxillo-mandibular relationship as the mandibular arch moves through various excursive positions. The causes of bruxism are not yet discovered clearly, but most consistently mentioned cause is psychological stress. Bruxism can be also associated with sleep disorders, medication, and disturbances of the central nervous system. There is no permanent treatment method of bruxism, so the objectives for management of bruxism are reduction of psychological stress and treatment of signs and symptoms of bruxism by occlusal adjustment, occlusal splint, systemic medication and physical therapy. These cases report present three cases of children with bruxism. The bruxism was reduced in these patients wearing occlusal splint.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.87-101
• /
• 2012

Bruxism is extensively defined as a diurnal or nocturnal parafunctional habit of tooth clenching or grinding. The etiology of bruxism may be categorized as central factors or peripheral factors and according to previous research results, central factors are assumed to be the main cause. Bruxism may cause tooth attrition, cervical abfraction, masseter hypertrophy, masseter or temporalis muscle pain, temporomandibular joint arthralgia, trismus, tooth or restoration fracture, pulpitis, trauma from occlusion and clenching in particularly may cause linea alba, buccal mucosa or tongue ridging. An oral appliance, electromyogram or polysomnogram is used as a tool for diagnosis and the American Sleep Disorders Association has proposed a clinical criteria. However the exact etiology of bruxism is yet controversial and the selection of treatment should be done with caution. When the rate of bruxism is moderate or greater and is accompanied with clinical symptoms and signs, treatment such as control of dangerous factors, use of an oral appliance, botulinum toxin injection, pharmacologic therapy and biofeedback therapy may be considered. So far, oral appliance treatment is known to be the most rational choice for bruxism treatment. For patients in need of esthetic correction of hypertrophic masseters, as well as bruxism treatment, botulinum toxin injection may be a choice.