Psychic and occlusal factors in bruxers.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of associations between bruxism and psychic and occlusal factors.

METHODS

Participants in this study (n=85) were recruited from the Section of Odontostomatology, Deparent of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Italy. They were split into two groups, bruxers (n=34) and non-bruxers (n=51), on the basis of the presence of both clinical and anamnestical indicators of bruxim. All participants were administered two self-reported validated questionnaires to evaluate (MOODS-SR) and panic-agoraphobic (PAS-SR) spetra. A number of occlusal variables (deep-bite: cross-bite, open-bite, mediotrusive and laterotrusive interferences, slide RCP-ICP, laterotrutsive guides, canine and molar classes) were also recorded.

RESULTS

With regards to occlusal factors, the only association was revealed between bruxism mediotrusive interferences (p < 0.05). As for psychiatric investigation, significant differences between bruxers and controls emerged for the presence of both depressive (p < 0.01) and manic symptoms (p < 0.01) in MOODS-SR, and for stress sensitivity (p < 0.01), anxious expectation (p < 0.05), and reassurance sensitivity symptoms (p < 0.05) in PAS-SR. In particular, both mood (p < 0.01) and panic-agoraphobic (p < 0.05) spectra symptoms seem to differentiate bruxers from controls in males, while in females strong differences emerged for stress sensitivity symptoms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It can be confirmed that certain psychic traits are present in bruxers, while occlusal factors are not useful parameters to discern bruxers from non-bruxers.