Reported bruxism and restless legs syndrome in media personnel with or without irregular shift work.

A standardized questionnaire was mailed to all employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company with irregular shift work (n = 750) and to an equal number of randomly selected controls in the same company with regular 8-h daytime work. The questionnaire covered demographic items, employment details, general health experience, physical status, psychosocial status, stress, work satisfaction and performance, tobacco use, bruxism, and restless legs symptoms (RLS). The aim was to investigate among a multiprofessional media personnel the associations between reported bruxism and RLS, while simultaneously controlling the effects of gender, age, tobacco use, shift work, and dissatisfaction with current workshift schedule. The overall response rate was 58.3% (53.7% men). The response rate in the irregular shift work group was 82.3% (56.6% men) and in the regular daytime work group 34.3% (46.7% men). In the bivariate analyses, RLS was more prevalent in workers at either end of the studied age range (p < 0.05). Self-reported frequent bruxism was significantly associated with younger age (p < 0.05). Females reported RLS (11.4%) slightly more often than males (7.7%) (NS). In logistic regression, frequent bruxism (p < 0.05) and older age (p < 0.05) were significantly positively associated with RLS. Dissatisfaction with one's current workshift schedule (p < 0.05) and RLS (p < 0.05) were significantly positively associated with frequent bruxism, while age (p < 0.05) was significantly negatively associated. In conclusion, perceived bruxism may be a sign of a stressful situation or dissatisfaction, while RLS as a more stable trait may in itself negatively affect sleep quality and further enhance the problem.

Clinical and radiographic findings of the temporomandibular joint in patients with various rheumatic diseases. A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate subjective, clinical and radiographic findings relating to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and spondyloarthropathy (SPA), and to compare the findings with those in age- and sex-matched control subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty patients (24 with RA, 16 with MCTD, 19 with AS, 21 with SPA) and 80 matched controls participated in the study. Replies to a questionnaire covering oral and TMJ symptoms were analysed in conjunction with medical histories, results of clinical examination of the stomatognathic system, and panoramic and lateral panoramic radiographs. RESULTS: Patients with rheumatic disease reported severe TMJ symptoms significantly oftener than control subjects (P < .001). Patients with AS reported symptoms most frequently (7/19, 37%). Mean maximal opening of the mouth (SD) was significantly less in patients with rheumatic disease (46.3 mm (8.6 mm)) than in control subjects (55.0 mm (7.4 mm)) (P < .001). Marked erosions were observed in 4 RA patients (17%), 3 MCTD patients (19%), 8 SPA patients (38%), 7 AS patients (37%), and 1 control subject (1%) (P < .001). The existence of erosion was associated with evidence of restricted movement of condyle in panoramic radiographs (P < .001). There was correlation between radiographic findings relating to the TMJ and subjective and clinical stomatognathic-system symptoms in patients with rheumatic disease. Subjective TMJ symptoms were associated with evidence of restricted movement of condyle in panoramic radiographs (P < .001). Impairment of laterotrusion movement was significantly associated with erosion (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The TMJ is commonly affected in patients with RA, and in patients with other forms of rheumatic disease. There are associations between radiographic findings and subjective symptoms, and between radiographic findings and restricted TMJ movement. In screening for suspected TMJ destruction, it would be appropriate to look for restricted maximal mouth opening, masticatory muscle tenderness and restricted laterotrusion.