C.11.04 Breaking boundaries with existing treatments

Abstract

Sleep bruxism can have a significant effecton the patient's quality of life. It may also be associated with anumber of disorders. However, little is known about the epidemiology ofsleep bruxism and its risk factors in the general population.Cross-sectional telephone survey using the, Sleep-EVAL knowledge based system.Representative samples of three general populations (United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy) consisting of 158 million inhabitants.Thirteen thousand fifty-seven subjects aged≥15 years (United Kingdom, 4,972 subjects; Germany, 4,115 subjects; and Italy, 3,970 subjects).None.Clinical questionnaire on bruxism (using theInternational Classification of Sleep Disorders [ICSD]minimal set of criteria) with an investigation of associatedpathologies (ie, sleep, breathing disorders, andpsychiatric and neurologic pathologies).Grinding of teeth during sleep occurring at least weekly was reportedby 8.2% of the subjects, and significant consequences from teethgrinding during sleep (ie, muscular discomfort onawakening, disturbing tooth grinding, or necessity of dental work) werefound in half of these subjects. Moreover, 4.4% of the populationfulfilled the criteria of ICSD sleep bruxism diagnosis. Finally, subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (odds ratio [OR],1.8), loud snorers (OR, 1.4), subjects with moderate daytime sleepiness(OR, 1.3), heavy alcohol drinkers (OR, 1.8), caffeine drinkers (OR,1.4), smokers (OR, 1.3), subjects with a highly stressful life (OR,1.3), and those with anxiety (OR, 1.3) are at higher risk of reportingsleep bruxism.Sleep bruxism is common inthe general population and represents the third most frequentparasomnia. It has numerous consequences, which are not limited todental or muscular problems. Among the associated risk factors, patients with anxiety and sleep-disordered breathing have a highernumber of risk factors for sleep bruxism, and this must raise concernsabout the future of these individuals. An educational effort to raisethe awareness of dentists and physicians about this pathology isnecessary.