Correlations between Sleep Bruxism and Temporomandibular Disorders.

Brigitte Ohlmann,Peter Rammelsberg,Michael Leckel,Moritz Waldecker,Marc Schmitter,Wolfgang Bömicke,Rouven Behnisch

doi:10.3390/jcm9020611

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify correlations between sleep bruxism (SB) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as diagnosed by means of the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD). Sleep bruxism was diagnosed on the basis of I) validated questionnaires, II) clinical symptoms, and III) electromyographic/electrocardiographic data. A total of 110 subjects were included in the study. Fifty-eight patients were identified as bruxers and 52 as nonbruxers. A psychosocial assessment was also performed. An RDC/TMD group-I diagnosis (myofascial pain) was made for 10 out of 58 bruxers, whereas none of the nonbruxers received a diagnosis of this type. No significant differences were found between bruxers and nonbruxers with regard to RDC/TMD group-II (disc displacement) and group-III (arthralgia, arthritis, arthrosis) diagnoses. Somatization was significantly more common among bruxers than nonbruxers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that somatization was the only factor significantly correlated with the diagnosis of myofascial pain. The results of this study indicate a correlation between myofascial pain, as diagnosed using the RDC/TMD, and somatization. It seems that somatization is a stronger predictor of an RDC/TMD diagnosis of myofascial pain than sleep bruxism is.

Highlights

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is the umbrella term for many clinical signs and symptoms of the structures of the masticatory system, including the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joints (TMJs)
It has been suggested that many factors contribute to the development of TMD, and it is commonly assumed that bruxism is one of the major risk factors for temporomandibular disorders [1]
Whereas some studies have established that bruxism is a significant risk factor for TMD pain [4,5] or clinically diagnosed disc displacement [6], others have concluded that no association exists between bruxism and functional [7,8] or muscle [9] symptoms

Summary

Introduction

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is the umbrella term for many clinical signs and symptoms of the structures of the masticatory system, including the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Whereas some studies have established that bruxism is a significant risk factor for TMD pain [4,5] or clinically diagnosed disc displacement [6], others have concluded that no association exists between bruxism and functional [7,8] or muscle [9] symptoms. This contentious relationship between bruxism and TMD is due to the wide range of symptoms, diagnoses, and examination methods associated with both disorders. Almost 40% of those with TMD pain had been told by their dentist that they had SB

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