General Health Quality of Life in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders in a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Southern Brazil.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) on general health quality of life in a Brazilian population-based cross-sectional survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,643 patients were assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axes I and II (RDC/TMD). Cross-tabulation of the data was carried out to compare TMD subjects to controls in all domains of the WHOQOL-Bref and the RDC/TMD. RESULTS: TMD subjects had significantly worse quality of life than controls in Axes I and II of the RDC/TMD and in all WHOQOL-Bref domains except for disc displacement. Osteoarthrosis was significantly different only in the WHOQOL-Bref physical domain. CONCLUSION: TMD subjects had worse general health quality of life, particularly in Axis I groups with higher pain/disability levels (muscle disorders/arthralgia/arthritis).

Current Methods of Bruxism Diagnosis: A Short Communication.

PURPOSE: To assess the current diagnostic methods for sleep bruxism (SB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review of the literature evaluates all available instrumental and noninstrumental methods of bruxism/SB diagnosis. RESULTS: SB diagnosis can be performed using self-reports and clinical examination, but these methods have little agreement with polysomnography. Two portable electromyography/electrocardiography appliances have been validated against polysomnography (BiteStrip and Bruxoff), but they are indicated only for primary SB. Polysomnography is considered the gold standard and is indicated for secondary SB; however, it is expensive and time-consuming. CONCLUSION: No perfect method of SB diagnosis exists, and future research should concentrate on improving SB self-reports.