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Updated: May 23, 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
Are bruxism and the bite causally related?
F Lobbezoo1, J Ahlberg, D Manfredini
1Department of Oral Kinesiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Research Institute MOVE, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. f.lobbezoo@acta.nl
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|April 12, 2012
Summary
This review found no evidence linking bruxism (involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth) to dental occlusion or
Area of Science:
- Dental Science
- Oral Health
- Bruxism Research
Background:
- A widespread belief exists in dentistry that bruxism and dental malocclusion are causally linked.
- This belief influences clinical practice and patient understanding of these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the scientific literature regarding the relationship between bruxism and dental occlusion.
- To determine if occlusion plays a causal or mediating role in bruxism or its consequences.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted using specific keywords related to bruxism and dental occlusion.
- 46 relevant English-language articles were included in the systematic review.
Main Results:
- No evidence supports occlusal interferences or oro-facial skeletal anatomy as etiological factors for bruxism.
- No evidence demonstrates occlusion mediating the adverse effects of bruxism on the masticatory system.
- Psychosocial and behavioral factors are increasingly recognized as important in bruxism etiology.
Conclusions:
- There is currently no scientific evidence to support a causal relationship between bruxism and dental occlusion ('the bite').
- The role of occlusion in the consequences of bruxism, such as tooth wear or temporomandibular disorders, remains unsubstantiated.
- Future research should focus on non-occlusal factors contributing to bruxism.
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