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Updated: May 26, 2026

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Mimicking and Measuring Occlusal Erosive Tooth Wear with the "Rub&Roll" and Non-contact Profilometry
Published on: February 2, 2018
Bruxism and nocturnal groaning
L Ferini-Strambi1, P Pozzi, M Manconi
1Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. ferinistrambi.luigi@hsr.it
Archives Italiennes De Biologie
|December 30, 2011
Summary
Sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) and nocturnal groaning are sleep disorders. Their connection and underlying causes, possibly involving brain arousal and respiratory patterns, require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Neurology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Sleep bruxism (SB) is a sleep-related movement disorder involving tooth grinding/clenching.
- Nocturnal groaning (NG) is a parasomnia characterized by sleep-related vocalizations, often during REM sleep.
- The exact pathophysiology of both SB and NG remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential pathophysiological links between sleep bruxism and nocturnal groaning.
- To investigate the role of sleep microstructure and arousal patterns in these sleep disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on sleep bruxism and nocturnal groaning.
- Analysis of potential triggers and modulators, including brainstem arousal and respiratory patterns.
- Correlation of sleep microstructure fluctuations with the termination of NG episodes.
Main Results:
- SB is associated with transient brainstem arousal activity.
- NG episodes often conclude with cortical arousal and autonomic activation.
- Sleep microstructure may influence the occurrence and termination of NG.
Conclusions:
- Further research is necessary to elucidate the pathophysiology of SB and NG.
- Understanding the association between SB and NG could provide new insights into sleep disorder mechanisms.
- Investigating these conditions together may reveal shared underlying pathways.
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