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. 2022 Apr 29;19(9):5415.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095415.

Associations between Bruxism, Stress, and Manifestations of Temporomandibular Disorder in Young Students

Diana Vlăduțu  1 , Sanda Mihaela Popescu  2 , Răzvan Mercuț  3 , Mihaela Ionescu  4 , Monica Scrieciu  1 , Adina Dorina Glodeanu  5 , Andreea Stănuși  1 , Ana Maria Rîcă  6 , Veronica Mercuț  1
Affiliations

Associations between Bruxism, Stress, and Manifestations of Temporomandibular Disorder in Young Students

Diana Vlăduțu et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Bruxism is a repetitive activity of the masticatory muscles, which determine teeth grinding or clenching, associated with rigidity, bracing, or thrusting of the mandibula. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of possible bruxism in 328 students attending the Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, and its associations with stress and other manifestations of the temporo-mandibular disorder. This was a questionnaire-based study to collect information on self-evaluation of bruxism presence, frequency of specific episodes, stress, anxiety, and other manifestations of temporo-mandibular disorder. Self-evaluated bruxism was identified in 39.33% from the entire study group, allowing us to define two subgroups for further analysis. Sleep bruxism was present in 16.28% of participants; awake bruxism was present in 68.99%, while 14.73% of participants presented a combined form. The main manifestation of bruxism was reported as teeth grinding. Fatigue was identified as a common clinical sign of bruxism and temporo-mandibular disorder. Group distribution analysis (Chi-Square) indicated significant associations between bruxism and stress, panic, restlessness, or increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.05). Bruxism, and especially awake bruxism, has increased in prevalence among young students, and it has been associated with increased levels of stress.

Keywords: anxiety; bruxism; muscular contractions; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of participants presenting clinical signs of SB: teeth grinding (reported by the partner of the participant [Q1] or personally [Q2]), muscular fatigue during the day, associated with the functions of the MS [Q3], pain [Q4] or dental sensitivity [Q7], pain of neck muscles in the morning [Q6], headache [Q8], and insomnia related to teeth clenching [Q5].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of participants groups presenting clinical signs of AB: muscular fatigue during the day, associated with the functions of the MS [Q9], grinding [Q10] and clenching [Q11] during daytime.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of participants (expressed as percentage) presenting clinical signs of stress: nervousness [Q12], tremor [Q13], strong heartbeats [Q16], tension [Q17], lack of satisfaction related to current occupation [Q18], DIS [Q19], DS (difficulties maintaining sleep) [Q20], waking up in the morning very early [Q21], EMA [Q22], restless sleep (for more than a month) [Q23], feeling tired (at least three days a week) [Q24], sleep deprivation (the need to sleep for more than one hour beyond current sleep duration) [Q25].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of participants (expressed as percentage) presenting clinical signs of anxiety: panic [Q26], restlessness [Q27].
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