The prevalence of bruxism and oral parafunction activities among Israeli juveniles with autism spectrum disorder: A preliminary study during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of oral habits, bruxism, and Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) injuvenileswithautisticspectrumdisorder(ASD). METHODS: Data included 165 juveniles diagnosed with ASD, allocated to younger group aged 6 21 (n=86) and older group aged 13-21 (n=79). RESULTS: Sleep bruxism was reported by 26.7% in the younger group and by 5% in the older group. Awake bruxism was reported by 22% and 17.7%, respectively. Oral habits were reported by 43% of all participants, with similar rate in both groups. TMD related p ain was low in both groups (6.3% and 7% respectively). The influence of the COVID 19 pandemic on oral parafunction was moderate in the younger group (17.4%) and mild in the older group (8.6%), influence on bruxism was mild in both groups (5.8% and 2.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of bruxism and oral parafunctions was similar to the reported in the literature for the general population.

An exploratory study on the association between serotonin and sleep breathing disorders.

This exploratory observational study aimed to evaluate whether the blood levels of serotonin and enzymes involved in serotonin synthesis are associated with sleep breathing parameters. A total of 105 patients were included in this study, who were subjected to single-night polysomnography with simultaneous audio-video recordings. Peripheral blood samples were collected to estimate the serum levels of serotonin, tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). Results showed a negative correlation between blood serotonin levels, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (p = 0.027), central apnea (p = 0.044) and obstructive apnea (OA) (p = 0.032) scores. Blood TPH1 levels were negatively correlated with average (p = 0.003) and minimal saturation (p = 0.035) and positively correlated with apnea-hypopnea index (p = 0.010), OA (p = 0.049), and hypopnea index (p = 0.007) scores. A tendency to sleep-disordered breathing seemed to co-occur with lower blood serotonin and higher TPH1 levels.Clinical Trial Registration : www.ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT04214561.

Sleep bruxism in children, from evidence to the clinic. A systematic review.

Objectives: The present paper aims to systematically review the literature published from 2015 to 2023 on bruxism in children with the aim to compilate the best available evidence. Materials and Methods: A systematic search in the National Library of Medicine's PubMed, Medline (EBSCO), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify all studies on humans assessing genetic, biopsychosocial, and sleep factors assessed with any different approach for sleep bruxism (SB) in children and its interventions. The selected articles were assessed independently by the two authors according to a structured reading of the article's format (PICO). The quality of the articles was evaluated using Quality Assessments Tool for Experimental Bruxism Studies (Qu-ATEBS) and the JBI critical appraisal tools. Results: A total of 16 articles were included for discussion in the review and grouped into questionnaire/parental-report (n = 7), SB assessment through parental report of SB and clinical examination (n = 4), and instrumental assessment (n = 5) studies. The total quality scores evaluated with STROBE and Qu-ATEBS were high for all included papers. However, in general, there was no control of bias strategies and there was no control group in the intervention studies. Conclusions: Investigations based on self-report, clinical, and instrumental bruxism assessment showed a positive association with genetics, quality of life aspects (school and emotional functions and overuse of screen-time), mother anxiety and family conformation, diet, alteration in sleep behaviors and architecture, and sleep breathing disorders. Additionally, the literature presents options to increase airway patency and, thus, reduce the occurrence of SB. Tooth wear was not found to be a major sign of SB in children. However, methods of SB assessment are heterogeneous and hamper a reliable comparison of the results.

Ecological Momentary Assessment of Awake Bruxism Behaviors: A Scoping Review of Findings from Smartphone-Based Studies in Healthy Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: The recent introduction of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) smartphone-based strategies has allowed achieving some interesting data on the frequency of different awake bruxism (AB) behaviors reported by an individual in the natural environment. OBJECTIVE: The present paper aims to review the literature on the reported frequency of AB based on data gathered via smartphone EMA technology. METHODS: On September 2022, a systematic search in the Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify all peer-reviewed English-language studies assessing awake bruxism behaviors using a smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment. The selected articles were assessed independently by two authors according to a structured reading of the articles' format (PICO). RESULTS: A literature search, for which the search terms "Awake Bruxism" and "Ecological Momentary Assessment" were used, identified 15 articles. Of them, eight fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results of seven studies using the same smartphone-based app reported a frequency of AB behaviors in the range between 28.3 and 40% over one week, while another investigation adopted a different smartphone-based EMA approach via WhatsApp using a web-based survey program and reported an AB frequency of 58.6%. Most included studies were based on convenience samples with limited age range, highlighting the need for more studies on other population samples. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the methodological limits, the results of the reviewed studies provide a standpoint for comparison for future studies on the epidemiology of awake bruxism behaviors.

Temporomandibular Disorders and Bruxism among Sex Workers-A Cross Sectional Study.

Sex workers are a highly underprivileged population which is present all around the world. Sex work is associated with negative social stigma which affects all aspects of the sex workers' lives including healthcare, service providers and police. The stigma may result in increased stress, mental health problems, feelings of isolation and social exclusion. In the present study, 36 sex workers (SW) and 304 subjects from the general population in Israel (GP) were evaluated for the presence of bruxism and Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), with the use of Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD- Axis I). When compared to the general population, sex workers presented larger maximal assisted mouth opening and higher prevalence of the following TMD diagnoses: Disc displacement with reduction, Myalgia, Myofascial pain with referral, Arthralgia (left and right) and Headache attributed to TMD. The odds of sex workers suffering from one of these diagnoses were twice to five times higher than those of the general population. The study shows that health problems of sex workers go beyond venereal diseases, HIV and mental disorders which are commonly studied. Oral health, TMD and oral parafunctions are some of the additional health issues that should be addressed and explored in this population.

Impact of bruxism on craniomandibular morphology: A cone-beam computed tomographic study.

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this work was to address craniomorphological characteristics of patients with bruxism when compared to those without bruxism using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. METHODS: Seventy CBCT images of an equal number (n = 35) of orthodontic patients with and without bruxism (age range, 18-44 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Sagittal evaluation, mandibular shape, and skeletal asymmetry were systematically assessed in both groups. RESULTS: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between groups for Right Articular Fossa (AF) - Axial Plane (AP) and Left AF - AP (B > NB), Right Gonial Angle (GA), Left GA, Sella-Nasion and Occlusal Plane (B < NB). Age (13%), Condyle-Gonion (18%), AF to AP (67%), and Mental-AP (16%) had the greatest impact on bruxers. CONCLUSION: In this study, the CBCT 3D image showed significant differences in craniofacial morphology, particularly in the mandibular structure of bruxers compared with non-bruxers.

Painful Temporomandibular Disorders, Bruxism and Oral Parafunctions before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Sex Comparison among Dental Patients.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of the current coronavirus pandemic on the prevalence of bruxism, oral parafunctions and painful Temporo-Mandibular Disorders (TMDs) and to evaluate the influence of the pandemic on both sexes. METHODS: This retrospective study included 288 dental patients who underwent complete anamnesis and examination according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. The study evaluated two patient populations according to the date of examination: (a) pre-COVID-19 pandemic era (108 patients); (b) COVID 19 pandemic era, where 180 patients were examined during the pandemic. RESULTS: A significant increase in parafunction activity was found in both men and women (p < 0.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Awake bruxism (AB) and sleep bruxism (SB) was more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic solely in women (AB-p < 0.001; SB-p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Men and women were affected by the ongoing stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet women showed a higher influence as compared to men. The long-term exposure to elevated levels of anxiety and stress may aggravate or trigger stomatognathic detrimental conditions. Dentists should be aware and regularly monitor their patients regarding the possible existence and consequences of bruxism and TMD.

Association Between Primary Headache and Bruxism: An Updated Systematic Review.

AIMS: To answer the question: among observational studies, is there any association between primary headaches and bruxism in adults? MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of observational studies was performed. The search was performed in seven main databases and three gray literature databases. Studies in which samples were composed of adult patients were included. Primary headaches were required to be diagnosed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Any diagnostic method for bruxism was accepted. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool and the Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (MAStARI) tool. Associations were analyzed by calculating odds ratios (OR) in Review Manager 5.3 software. The evidence certainty was screened by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Of the 544 articles reviewed, 5 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. The included studies evaluated both awake and sleep bruxism, as well as tension-type headaches and migraines as primary headaches. Among two migraine studies, one showed an OR of 1.79 (95% CI: 0.96 to 3.33) and another 1.97 (95% CI: 1.5 to 2.55). On the other hand, among three tension-type headache studies, there was a positive association only with awake bruxism, with an OR of 5.23 (95% CI: 2.57 to 10.65). All included articles had a positive answer for more than 60% of the risk of bias questions. The evidence certainty varied between low and very low. Due to high heterogeneity among the studies, it was impossible to perform a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Patients with awake bruxism have from 5 to 17 times more chance of having tension-type headaches. Sleep bruxism did not have any association with tension-type headache, and the association with migraines is controversial.

The Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders and Dental Attrition Levels in Patients with Posterior Crossbite and/or Deep Bite: A Preliminary Prospective Study.

Background: The prevalence of various temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and the severity of attrition in patients with either bilateral or unilateral deep bite and/or posterior crossbite has not been established, nor has the effect of one year of orthodontic treatment on TMD. Methods: Of 310 patients presenting with suspected TMD, 160 were diagnosed with various TMD and 150 were TMD-free. Diagnosis was according to the Axis I of the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. All participants underwent a dental examination, and 100 patients were reevaluated after one year of orthodontic treatment. Fisher's exact test and the proportion test with Bonferroni's correction were used for the categorical univariate analysis. Results: There was a significant association (P < 0.001) between deep bite and dental attrition (wear), but not between crossbite and/or deep bite in patients diagnosed with either painful TMD or disc displacement. The risk of sustaining painful TMD when crossbite presented simultaneously on the anterior and the posterior dentition was 2.625-fold greater than when it presented with a normal bite, although this difference was not significant (P=0.286) due to the lack of statistical power. There was no significant sex-related association between the occurrence of either painful TMD or disc displacement. A reduction in TMD findings was demonstrated after one year of treatment, but no statistical power was reached due to the small sample size. Conclusions: Deep bite may be related to dental wear but not to pain from TMD and/or disc displacement. Only crossbite that presents simultaneously on the anterior and the posterior dentition (mixed X-bite) may have some effect on the level of pain in TMD, but not on in the prevalence of disc displacement. Confirmation of these conclusions by well-designed studies on larger patient groups is warranted. There was a clinically significant improvement in TMD findings after one year of treatment.

Consecutive Controlled Case Series on Effectiveness of Opipramol in Severe Sleep Bruxism Management-Preliminary Study on New Therapeutic Path.

BACKGROUND: Sleep bruxism (SB) management aims to reduce the number and magnitude of bruxism episodes per hour of a patient's sleep and, therefore, reduce the potentially negative clinical consequences. Opipramol belongs to the group of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and is considered as an atypical TCA, as it acts primarily as a sigma receptor agonist. This study aimed to preliminarily determine the effectiveness of opipramol in the management of severe SB. METHODS: A total of 19 otherwise healthy participants with severe SB diagnosed during stage I video polysomnography (vPSG) were subjected to an 8-week pharmacotherapy trial with a 100 mg bedtime daily dose of opipramol and were then analyzed by control stage II vPSG. RESULTS: The participants included 14 females and 5 males, aged 20-47 years (mean ± standard deviation: 32.32 ± 8.12). A comparison of stage I and II vPSG recordings showed a decrease in all the studied SB parameters in 78.85% of participants. Only in a small group of participants (15.53%) was a non-significant increase of SB parameters observed. CONCLUSIONS: A single 100 mg dose of opipramol at bedtime seems to positively affect the reduction of SB in otherwise healthy individuals diagnosed with severe SB. However, the subject requires further research on a larger population including a control group.

The Association between Emotional Stress, Sleep, and Awake Bruxism among Dental Students: A Sex Comparison.

Psychosocial factors may play an important role in the etiology of sleep and awake bruxism. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between emotional stress and bruxism in male and female dental students at various stages of their education. Dental education in Israel is based on a six-year curriculum, divided into three stages: pre-medical studies (yr. 1-2), manual skills (yr. 3-4), and clinical experience (yr. 5-6). Each stage requires different capabilities and skills. Questionnaires regarding psychological state (SCL-90) measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization as well as stress evaluation questioners (Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire 14) were completed by 387 dental students in the 1st to 6th years. Sleep and awake bruxism were evaluated based on the respondent's awareness. During the manual stage of studies, a significant increase was identified, albeit with weak correlations, between stress scales, depression, anxiety, somatization, and the prevalence of awake bruxism, particularly among males. Only in females was sleep bruxism correlated with emotional parameters, whereas no significant difference in sleep bruxism was observed in males throughout the stages of the study. The manual years of dental education were found to be linked to higher levels of emotional distress and awake bruxism, particularly in men. Sleep bruxism, on the other hand, was not directly linked to emotional factors, implying a distinct etiology.

Genetic basis of sleep bruxism and sleep apnea-response to a medical puzzle.

Sleep bruxism (SB) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are co-occurring sleep conditions. The study aimed to evaluate the association of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) occurring within the genes of the serotonin and dopamine pathways in SB and OSA and investigate the relationship between them. The study group included 100 Caucasian patients. SB and OSA were diagnosed in 74 and 28 patients, respectively. In addition, 125 unrelated Caucasian healthy blood donors served as randomly selected controls to enable comparison of polymorphisms. The following SNPs were analyzed: rs2770304 and rs6313 within the serotonin receptor encoding gene (HTR2A), rs4680 polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, and rs686 within the dopamine receptor (DRD1) encoding gene. The prevalence of the DRD1 rs686 G variant (GG homozygosity) was found to be high in the study group compared to the control group. Bruxism episode index (BEI) was found to be significantly increased in the HTR2A rs6313 TT homozygotes compared to the heterozygous patients. Moreover, within a group of the HTR2A rs2770304 TT homozygous cases, a statistically significant correlation was observed between BEI and apnea-hypopnea index. These results indicate that DRD1 rs686 may potentially affect predisposition to SB, that HTR2A rs6313 SNP may be involved in SB pathogenesis, and that HTR2A rs2770304 polymorphism might contribute to the association between SB and OSA. This suggests a possible genetic contribution to the etiology of primary SB.

Special Issue: Sleep Bruxism-The Controversial Sleep Movement Activity.

According to the current approach [1], bruxism is considered as two different behaviours observed during sleep and wakefulness, respectively, and the single definition for bruxism has been replaced by two separate definitions [...].

Distribution of temporomandibular disorders among sleep bruxers and non-bruxers-A polysomnographic study.

INTRODUCTION: Bruxism is often indicated as a risk factor for the occurrence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Despite the frequent co-occurrence of bruxism and TMD, the exact relationship between these phenomena has not been thoroughly explained, and their causal relationship is still considered controversial. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of TMD among sleep bruxers and non-bruxers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants of this study were 77 patients of the Clinic of Prosthetic Dentistry operating at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University who had been diagnosed with TMD and probable sleep bruxism. Patients underwent video-polysomnography to assess the intensity of sleep bruxism using the Bruxism Episode Index (BEI). RESULTS: The following TMD diagnoses were made: local myalgia, temporal tendonitis, myofascial pain, myofascial pain with referral, hypertrophy, osteoarthrosis, disc displacement with reduction, disc displacement without reduction with limited opening, subluxation, adhesions/adherence, arthralgia, headache attributed to TMD and oromandibular dystonia. None of these occurred statistically significantly more often in the studied group (bruxers; BEI ≥ 2) than in the control group (non-bruxers; BEI < 2); (P > .05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: The distribution of TMD among sleep bruxers and non-bruxers is similar. Therefore, the prevalence of sleep bruxism seems not to be a certain risk factor for TMD occurrence.

Great potential of ultrasound elastography for the assessment of the masseter muscle in patients with temporomandibular disorders. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the available evidence on the use of elastography in the assessment of the masseter muscle in healthy individuals and patients with masseter muscle disorders. METHODS: Systematic literature review has been performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. RESULTS: 16 of 142 studies identified were analyzed. Elastography was used in seven studies. Heterogeneity was observed in terms of study protocols, devices, patients, units of measure, and results. Elasticity values showed a correlation between the left and right masseter muscle side in healthy people, but not in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Elasticity values increased in TMD and were correlated with the severity of TMD symptoms. Phantom studies proved the high reliability of elastography. CONCLUSION: Elastography is a promising tool for the assessment of the masseter muscle elasticity, but the evidence is insufficient. Studies on larger groups are needed to determine the accuracy of elastography to characterize masticatory muscle disorders.

Prevalence and Overlaps of Headaches and Pain-Related Temporomandibular Disorders Among the Polish Urban Population.

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence and overlaps of headaches and pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among the Polish urban population. METHODS: The study was conducted in four Polish cities (Wroclaw, Lublin, Katowice, and Lodz) between February and November 2017. Participation in the study was voluntary. The examination consisted of two parts: a clinical examination of TMD using the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD Examination Form and the Head-HUNT Study questionnaire filled in by the participants to determine the occurrence and type of headaches. An experienced and qualified clinician trained all the examiners in the clinical examination protocol. Statistical analyses were based on descriptive and nonparametric statistics. In addition, univariate logistic regression was used. The significance level was set at α = .05. RESULTS: Overall, 213 individuals were examined (149 women and 64 men). The mean age of the participants was 37 ± 15.82 years. The diagnosis for 55.9% of the participants was pain-related TMD, including myalgia (47.4%), myofascial pain (14.1%), arthralgia (21.1%), or headache attributed to TMD (10.3%). In the study population, 48.8% were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorders, most frequently disc displacement with reduction (47.9%). A total of 73% of the individuals had experienced headaches in the previous 12 months. The majority of the participants described the headache episodes as occurring less than 7 days/month and lasting less than 4 hours. Among people with painful TMD, the frequency of headaches was almost twice as high as that in nondisordered individuals (48.35% and 25.35%, respectively; P < .0001). The logistic regression model confirmed a significant overlap between headache and painful TMD (OR = 4.77, 95% CI 2.44-9.32, P = .0000). For the entire studied population, no statistically significant connections were established between the occurrence of identified TMJ disorders and headache reports or diagnoses (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Headaches and pain-related TMD are major problems among the Polish urban population. Headache was a much more frequent problem for participants with painful TMD. This issue requires further research and identification of cause-and-effect relationships. Considering the entire studied population, the relationship between identified TMJ disorders and headache is negligible.

Sleep Bruxism and Occurrence of Temporomandibular Disorders-Related Pain: A Polysomnographic Study.

Introduction: The diagnosis of sleep bruxism is challenging due to the difficulties involved. Sleep bruxism can lead to clinical consequences, including pain in masticatory muscles, limitation of jaw mobility, headache, and the spectrum of symptoms associated with damage to the teeth and oral mucosa. Currently, only video-polysomnography can definitely diagnose sleep bruxism. Due to the risk of painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in sleep bruxers, early diagnosis of pain in the temporomandibular region using questionnaires is recommended. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between the intensity of sleep bruxism and the occurrence of pain related to TMD. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on the patients of the Clinic of Prosthetic Dentistry operating at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at the Wroclaw Medical University. Based on a positive medical history, a thorough examination for the diagnosis of probable sleep bruxism was carried out in the enrolled patients. Eligible patients were then subjected to a video-polysomnographic study. Each patient was asked to complete the TMD Pain Screener questionnaire to assess the occurrence of pain in jaw and temple area. Results: The results of the study showed that increased bruxism episode index (BEI) was statistically significantly correlated with increase of all types of bruxism episodes-phasic, tonic, and mixed-in all the studied patients; a significant correlation was also found with respect to division of patients into studied and control groups. The study also showed that there was no statistically significant difference between BEI values and scores of TMD Pain Screener. In all the studied patients, a higher BEI was not found to be correlated with the occurrence of TMD-related pain assessed by TMD Pain Screener; similarly, no correlation was found with respect to division of patients into studied and control groups. Conclusions: The occurrence of TMD-related pain is not related to the intensity of sleep bruxism. TMD Pain Screener may be used as an auxiliary tool in the diagnosis or risk of occurrence of TMD-related pain, whereas in the case of sleep bruxism, it has only limited diagnostic value. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03083405.