Association Between Sleep Bruxism and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Polysomnographic Pilot Study (Sleep Bruxism) (Report‪)‬

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to verify the association between sleep bruxism (SB) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a sample of 14 TMD patients and 12 healthy control subjects. All participants were evaluated using a clinical questionnaire, visual analog scale (VAS) for TMJ/muscle palpation, and by functional examination. The experimental group was divided into three TMD subgroups: joint sounds and pain, muscular tenderness, and mixed diagnosis. All participants underwent polysomnographic recording (PSG). A second clinical examination was then carried out to verify the relationship between rhythmic masticatory muscle activity and pain/tenderness on the following morning. The experimental and control groups presented VAS mean scores of 36.85[+ or -]23.73 mm and 0 mm, respectively. The presence of SB was neither associated with TMD (p0.05) nor with pain on palpation (p0.05). Further research with a more representative sample of each TMD subgroup is necessary to elucidate its interaction with SB. **********