Does tooth wear status predict ongoing sleep bruxism in 30-year-old Japanese subjects?

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated whether tooth wear status can predict bruxism level.

Materials and methods: Sixteen Japanese subjects (eight bruxers and eight age- and gender-matched controls; mean age 30 years) participated in this study. From dental casts of these subjects, the tooth wear was scored by Murphy's method. Bruxism level in these subjects was also recorded for 5 consecutive nights in the subject's home environment using a force-based bruxism detecting system. The relationship between the tooth wear score and bruxism data was evaluated statistically.

Results: Correlation analysis between the Murphy's scores of maxillary and mandibular dental arch and bruxism event duration score revealed no significant relationship between tooth wear and current bruxism.

Conclusion: Tooth wear status is not predictive of ongoing bruxism level as measured by the force-based bruxism detection system in 30-year-old Japanese subjects.