Sleep Bruxism and Pain

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Bruxism is defined as repetitive jaw muscle activity, involving teeth clenching/grinding or mandible bracing/thrusting.
• It presents as either sleep bruxism or awake bruxism, sharing risk factors and consequences for the masticatory system.
• Potential etiologies and pathophysiologies may differ between sleep and awake bruxism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of bruxism.
• To differentiate between sleep bruxism and awake bruxism.
• To clarify the relationship between bruxism and pain, particularly temporomandibular disorders.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific evidence on bruxism.
• Analysis of studies investigating the etiology and pathophysiology of sleep and awake bruxism.
• Evaluation of the association between bruxism and clinical manifestations such as tooth wear, muscle tenderness, headaches, and temporomandibular disorders.

Main Results:

• Bruxism is associated with tooth wear, masticatory muscle tenderness, headaches, and painful temporomandibular disorders.
• Common risk factors and masticatory system consequences are observed in both sleep and awake bruxism.
• Current scientific evidence does not establish bruxism as a direct cause of pain.

Conclusions:

• Bruxism is a complex oral behavior with distinct sleep and awake manifestations.
• While associated with various negative outcomes, bruxism is not considered a direct cause of pain.
• Clinical management of patients with bruxism should consider the lack of direct causal link to pain.