Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to clarify relations among temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), bruxism, lifestyle, and psychological stress. Participants were selected from female patients (n=29, 23-78 yrs, mean age 50.8 yrs).Eighteen females were diagnosed as having TMD (TMD group, mean age 47.6 yrs), and 11 females were diagnosed as not having TMD (Non-TMD group, mean age 55.9 yrs). All participants underwent self-administered questionnaires which consisted of the Health Practice Index (HPI), the Tokai University Type A Pattern Scale, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung-SDS). They were instructed to sleep at home with the disposable sleep bruxism sensor (BiteStrip®, S.L.P.) attached on their left masseter. The number of bruxers was significantly higher in the TMD group than in the Non-TMD group (P<.05), which suggested an association between bruxism and TMD. Based on BiteStrip score, participants were divided into bruxers and non-bruxers. In Non-TMD groups there was significant difference only in lifestyle, especially sleep and mental stress between bruxers and non-bruxers (P<.05). Bruxers showed higher anxiety and insomnia score than non-bruxers. Bruxism in the Non-TMD group was associated with lifestyle, especially with sleeping hours and mental stress. This suggests that an improvement in lifestyle might reduce bruxism events in the Non-TMD group.
