Bruxism Management

Excerpt

Bruxism, a prevalent condition, involves rhythmic contractions of the masseter muscles, accompanied by teeth grinding and mandible thrusting. Bruxism can manifest during sleep or wakefulness, each with various contributing factors. Sleep bruxism is most common in children, affecting 15% to 40% of children and 8% to 10% of adults. Wake bruxism affects 22.1% to 31% of the population. The underlying cause is likely a centrally mediated phenomenon related to microarousals from sleep and activation of the autonomic nervous system.

Clinicians categorize bruxism as primary or secondary based on its association with underlying medical conditions. In severe cases, bruxism may cause considerable damage to teeth and dental work, leading to morning jaw pain, temporal headaches, and restricted motion of the temporomandibular joint. Generally, the diagnosis is clinical, but affected patients require a thorough evaluation to identify potential underlying sleep disorders or other associated risk factors. Healthcare professionals utilize a multifaceted treatment approach focusing on patient education, counseling, lifestyle modification, and dental appliances.