Bruxism, oral parafunctions, anamnestic and clinical findings of temporomandibular disorders in children

Abstract

The reported prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) present during childhood and adolescence ranges between 7% and 68%. The range of the reported prevalence of sleep bruxism in children is also wide. The purpose of the current study was threefold: (i) determine the prevalence of oral parafunctions, sleep bruxism and of anamnestic and clinical findings of TMD among Israeli children with primary or mixed dentition; (ii) to establish whether the parafunctional activities are associated with anamnestic and clinical findings of TMD in this population and (iii) to examine the possible impact of stressful life events on the prevalence of bruxism, oral parafunctions, and anamnestic and clinical findings of TMD in children. A total of 244 children (183 girls and 61 boys) aged 5-12 years were included in the study. Each participant underwent a full TMD examination. Parents, in collaboration with their children, completed a questionnaire on TMD symptoms, oral parafunctions and stressful life events in their children's life. Most participants (78·8%) reported at least one oral habit. Of these, only 'jaw play' was associated with TMD anamnestic and clinical findings. Stressful life events were associated only with the performance of multiple oral habits. These findings indicate that the performance of oral parafunctions is commonplace during childhood, with younger children exhibiting fewer oral parafunctions than adolescents. Stressful life events are related with an increase in the performance of multiple oral parafunctions in children but the later are not necessarily associated with anamnestic and clinical findings of TMD in the paediatric population.

Parafunctional habits are associated cumulatively to painful temporomandibular disorders in adolescents

“…In fact, this is supported by the hypothesis that sleep bruxism and awake bruxism seem to be different entities, probably with a different etiology and pathophysiology. 10 Whereas the role of high levels of stress in sleep bruxism may be poor and controversial, 22,23 stressful life events seem to exacerbate awake bruxism. 23 Interestingly, studies on parafunctional habits in adolescents have shown an important association of these habits with stress, 23 which is considered a risk factor for them.…”

“…Previous studies with adolescent samples have also reported this association. 5,22,23 In addition, prospective studies have shown that sleep and awake bruxism could be predictors of signs and symptoms of TMD in adolescents, 24 increasing with frequency and intensity from adolescence to young adulthood. 25 Some studies have suggested a dose-response gradient measuring how greater levels of bruxism (intensity, duration) could promote more overloading and pain.…”

Association Between Harmful Oral Habits and Sign and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Among Adolescents

“…The range of symptoms occurring in adolescents are considered to be mild in nature [8,9]. Study done by Emodi - Perlman et al, had shown non nutritional oral habits like lip biting, nail biting being associated with TMD among adolescents [10]. Thus it is necessary to make the adolescents aware about the harmful oral habits that could lead to TMD's.…”

Pervasiveness of Bruxism and Stress and the association between them among undergraduate students at BUITEMS

“…Therefore the level of stress was also found to be minimum among male undergraduates which was found to be 37%. So it was clear that stress contributes etiologically to bruxism as bruxers report more symptoms of stress than the nonbruxers [16], [17], [18]. Association between stress and bruxism may lie in previous reports that cited bruxism as an outcome of emotional or psychological disturbances faced by an individual [19] .Bruxists reported higher history of dental injury as indicated in Table 2 that undergraduates that suffers from bruxism had prominent fractured or cracked tooth.…”