Relationship between Sleep Bruxism, Perceived Stress, and Coping Strategies.

Sleep bruxism (SB) is a common phenomenon defined as a masticatory muscle activity during sleep. Untreated severe SB can have significant dental and orofacial consequences. SB has often been linked with stress and maladaptive coping strategies. Therefore, in this study, a potential correlation between SB, perceived stress and coping strategies was evaluated. A total of 60 adults were enrolled into this study. Participants underwent a detailed intra- and extraoral exam focused on detecting bruxism symptoms. Additionally, the overnight Bruxism Index was recorded using the Bruxoff device. A total of 35 participants with symptoms of bruxism were assigned to the study group, whereas 25 asymptomatic participants were assigned to the control group. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used for stress assessment and Brief-COPE for coping strategies. Results showed that the higher the PSS-10 score, the higher the Bruxism Index was in the study group. Positive coping strategies were chosen most frequently in the control group, while maladaptive ones were chosen in the study group. It can be concluded that there is a relationship between perceived stress and sleep bruxism. Moreover, the type of coping strategies used by participants may have an impact on sleep bruxism, but the relationship should be further investigated.

The Bruxoff Device as a Screening Method for Sleep Bruxism in Dental Practice.

Sleep bruxism (SB) is a masticatory muscle activity during sleep and a common phenomenon. Severe SB can have a serious impact on the success of dental treatment. Reliable methods of screening and diagnosing patients with SB are crucial. Therefore, in this study, a Bruxoff device as a potential screening and diagnostic method for sleep bruxism was evaluated. A total of 60 adults participated in this study: 35 patients with symptoms of bruxism (study group) and 25 asymptomatic patients (control group). Data were recorded using Bruxoff. All symptomatic patients participating in the study turned out to be bruxers, while not all asymptomatic patients turned out to be non-bruxers according to the Bruxoff device. Bruxoff is a simple screening device that can be safely used to evaluate masseter muscle activity during sleep. Since the device does not have a built-in microphone and/or video camera and, therefore, cannot record grinding sounds, the objective capabilities of Bruxoff as a single diagnostic device for sleep bruxism are limited.