Bruxism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bruxism, including details on grinding teeth, sleep, headaches, treatment.

Considerations of mandibular angle fractures during and after surgery for removal of third molars: a review of the literature.

Chrcanovic BR, Custódio AL

, Av. Raja Gabaglia, 1000/1209-Gutierrez, Belo Horizonte, MG-CEP, 30441-070, Brazil, brunochrcanovic@hotmail.com.

BACKGROUND: Angle fractures are quite common considering that the angle of the mandible forms an area of lower resistance which contains a thicker upper border, a thin basilar bone, and the presence of an impacted mandibular third molar. Common complications of mandibular third molar surgery include alveolar osteitis (dry socket), secondary infection, nerve dysfunction, and hemorrhage. Reports of mandibular fracture during and after third molar removal are uncommon. PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the risk and predisposing factors that should be analyzed regarding the possibility of immediate and late mandibular angle fractures and their need for surgical treatment as a means through which to remove impacted molars. This study is based on a thorough review of the literature as well as on one immediate and one late mandibular angle fracture as described by the authors' own personal experience. CONCLUSIONS: The danger of an immediate jaw fracture can be avoided by means of proper instrumentation and by refraining from excessive force on the bone. The tooth should be sectioned in such a way as to minimize the extent of bone removal and force caused by instrumentation. The danger of a late jaw fracture can be avoided by precise diagnosis in cases of patients over 25 years of age, particularly men, whose tooth roots are superimposed on or adjacent to the inferior alveolar canal on a panoramic image, any local pathology and systemic disease or medications which may impair bone strength, and patients who present bruxism and are active athletes.

Published 21 January 2010 in Oral Maxillofac Surg.
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Articles on Bruxism published 24 December 2009:

Heterogeneous activity level of jaw-closing and -opening muscles and its association with arousal levels during sleep in the guinea pig.   Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 298(1): R34-42.

Exaggerated jaw motor activities during sleep are associated with muscle symptoms in the jaw-closing rather than the jaw-opening muscles. The intrinsic activity of antagonistic jaw muscles during sleep remains unknown. This study aims to assess the balance of muscle activity between masseter (MA) and digastric (DG) muscles during sleep in guinea pigs. Electroencephalogram (EEG), electroocculogram, and electromyograms (EMGs) of dorsal neck, MA, and DG muscles were recorded with video during ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Bruxism published 22 December 2009:

Effect of botulinum toxin injection on nocturnal bruxism: a randomized controlled trial.   Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 89(1): 16-23.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin type A on nocturnal bruxism. DESIGN: Twelve subjects reporting nocturnal bruxism were recruited for a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Six bruxers were injected with botulinum toxin in both masseters, and six with saline. Nocturnal electromyographic activity was recorded in the subject's natural sleeping environment from masseter and temporalis muscles before injection, and 4, 8, and 12 wks after injection and then used to calculate ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Bruxism published 16 December 2009:

Associated conditions and clinical significance of awake bruxism.   Geriatr Gerontol Int, 9(4): 382-90.

BACKGROUND: Awake bruxism is defined as an oral parafunctional activity that includes clenching and grinding of teeth during wakefulness. Confirming the possible related anatomy and the clinical significance of awake bruxism in geriatric hospitals is the aim of this study. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of 503 patients who were admitted to hospital from April to June 2008. After the recognition of bruxism, the clinical, brain imaging studies and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Bruxism published 27 November 2009:

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorder signs in patients with schizophrenia.   J Oral Rehabil, 36(12): 864-71.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs in a group of institutionalized patients with schizophrenia. Three hundred thirty-nine patients with schizophrenia were examined and compared with 107 age-matched and gender-matched control subjects. TMD signs were evaluated according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria to assess temporomandibular joint pain to palpation, limitation of maximum mouth opening, alteration of mouth opening pathway ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Bruxism published 16 November 2009:

Management of temporomandibular disorder associated with bruxism.   J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent, 27(4): 253-5.

Bruxism is the non-functional clenching or grinding of the teeth that may occur during sleep or, less commonly in the daytime in 5-20% of adults and about 30% of 56 year old children. Although research on bruxism is extensive, its etiology remains debatable. There is some literature to suggest that bruxism is correlated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and malocclusion. The aim of this article is to present the course of this condition in a case of bruxism coupled with TMD with special ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Bruxism published 5 November 2009:

Self-inflicted oral injury in an infant with transverse myelitis.   Spec Care Dentist, 29(6): 254-8.

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Controlled clinical, polysomnographic and psychometric studies on differences between sleep bruxers and controls and acute effects of clonazepam as compared with placebo.   Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.

The pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapy of sleep bruxism (SB) are still not fully understood. We investigated symptomatology, objective and subjective sleep and awakening quality of middle-aged bruxers compared with controls and acute effects of clonazepam 1 mg compared with placebo by polysomnography and psychometry. Twenty-one drug-free bruxers spent 3 nights in the sleep lab, 21 age- and sex-matched controls 2 nights. Clinically, bruxers exhibited deteriorated PSQI, SAS, SDS ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Bruxism published 20 October 2009:

Sleep duration, wake/sleep symptoms, and academic performance in Hong Kong Secondary School Children.   Sleep Breath, 13(4): 357-67.

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