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. | ||||||||
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Association between self-reported bruxism activity and occurrence of dental attrition, abfraction, and occlusal pits on natural teeth.Tsiggos N, Tortopidis D, Hatzikyriakos A, Menexes G Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, Dental School, Aristotle University, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. ntsiggos@dent.auth.gr STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: It is unclear whether subjects who report tooth clenching and/or grinding have more noticeable clinical signs of dental attrition, abfractions, and occlusal pits on their natural teeth than subjects who do not report bruxism activity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an association between self-reported (or not reported) bruxism activity and occurrence of dental attrition (anterior, posterior), abfractions, and occlusal pits on natural teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and two volunteer adult Greek subjects (mean age 44.6 +/-5.7 years) were classified into 2 groups (50 self-reported bruxers and 52 nonbruxers) according to 2 inquires regarding grinding and/or clenching of their teeth. Dental attrition (anterior, posterior) was assessed by 2 calibrated experienced examiners on diagnostic casts on a tooth-by-tooth basis, using a previously well established ordinal scale. Abfraction lesions (V-shaped, in the cervical region) and occlusal pits were recorded if these clinical signs were found on at least 2 natural teeth. Statistical comparisons between the 2 groups relative to the distribution of the occurrence of the 4 clinical signs were performed by means of the exact version of the chi-square test. The Fisher's exact test was used for the comparison of percentages. The intra- and interexaminer reliability was assessed by means of the Cohen's kappa coefficient (alpha=.05). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that there was a significant association between self-reported bruxism and occurrence of the 4 clinical signs. Although the 2 groups were significantly different according to the distribution of the 4 clinical signs, the greatest differences occurred for the anterior and posterior attrition signs. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the occurrence of 4 clinical signs (posterior or anterior dental attrition, abfractions, and occlusal pits) was associated with self-reported bruxers. It is suggested that, primarily, signs of dental attrition may differentiate self-reported bruxers from nonbruxer subjects. Published 30 June 2008 in J Prosthet Dent, 100(1): 41-6.
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