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Bruxism and temporal bone hypermobility in patients with multiple sclerosis
David E Williams1, John E Lynch, Vidhi Doshi
1National CCSVI Society.
Cranio : the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice
|May 17, 2012
Summary
Jaw clenching causes greater temporal bone movement in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study found MS patients experienced six times more cranial expansion during clenching than healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomechanics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Jaw clenching, or bruxism, involves forceful biting.
- Temporal bone movement during clenching is not well understood in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between jaw clenching and temporal bone movement in individuals with MS.
- To quantify differences in intracranial dimensions during clenching between MS patients and controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an ultrasonic pulsed phase locked loop (PPLL) device to measure changes in intracranial distance.
- Applied a sustained jaw clenching force of 100 lbs.
- Measured mean change in acoustic pathlength (delta L) as an indicator of intracranial expansion.
Main Results:
- Subjects with MS exhibited a mean delta L of 1.71 mm +/- 1.18.
- Control subjects showed a mean delta L of 0.27 mm +/- 0.24.
- Bi-temporal bone intracranial expansion was approximately six times greater in MS patients compared to controls (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Jaw clenching/bruxism is associated with significantly greater temporal bone displacement in MS patients.
- Increased cranial cavity expansion during clenching is a notable finding in individuals with MS.
- These findings suggest a link between bruxism and altered cranial mechanics in multiple sclerosis.
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