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Bruxism defined and graded: an international consensus
F Lobbezoo1, J Ahlberg, A G Glaros
1Department of Oral Kinesiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. f.lobbezoo@acta.nl
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|November 6, 2012
Summary
Experts established a consensus definition for bruxism, defining it as repetitive jaw muscle activity. They also proposed a grading system for classifying sleep bruxism and awake bruxism.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Bruxism lacks a universally agreed-upon definition and diagnostic criteria.
- This ambiguity hinders consistent clinical diagnosis and research across disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a consensus definition for bruxism.
- To propose a diagnostic grading system for bruxism for clinical and research use.
Main Methods:
- An international panel of bruxism experts convened for a consensus discussion.
- The discussion focused on formulating a precise definition and a practical grading system.
Main Results:
- Bruxism is defined as repetitive jaw-muscle activity involving teeth clenching/grinding or mandible bracing/thrusting.
- Two circadian manifestations were identified: sleep bruxism and awake bruxism.
- A grading system of 'possible,' 'probable,' and 'definite' was proposed for both sleep and awake bruxism.
Conclusions:
- The proposed definition and grading system offer a standardized approach to bruxism.
- These guidelines are intended for application in clinical practice and research within dental and medical fields.
