Bruxism, a functional disorder and destructive dental complex, is represented by two entities that have different pathogenesis, as the Diurnal Bruxism (DB), and Sleep Bruxism (SB). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics displayed by bruxists, comparing them to non bruxists. From a universe of 85 individuals were selected a group of bruxists, and other non bruxists (control group), using a selfreport questionnaire for the diagnosis of bruxism. On clinical examination were observaddas the occurrence of different factors reported in the literature. In the results, after Analysis of Variance with repeated measures (ANOVA), was observed between the control group and the bruxists group, there were no statistically significant differences in occlusal interference in protrusive; laterality right / left; guide incisors; canines bilateral guide; midline deviation; tooth mobility; gingival recession; anterior open bite; anterior crossbite; unilateral crossbite; overbite; overjet; jump condylar; clicks / TMJ clicking (on self-report questionnaires and clinical examination); TMJ sounds; limited mouth opening; facial asymmetry and other oral habits (onychophagia, biting lips, biting objects). Between the control group and the group of bruxists, statistically significant differences were observed for pain face muscles; functional dental stress; guide unilateral canine; absence of canine guides; presence of wear facets; broken teeth and / or restorations; presence of abfraction; masseter hypertony; lingual indentations and line Alba. In quality of life questionnaire, proposed by OMS, The WHOQOL Group, 1998, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) simplified version in Portuguese, the factor "fatigue" was the only that showed statistically significant difference distinguishing the bruxists group of the group of non bruxists.