Awake bruxism behaviors frequency in a group of healthy young adults with different psychological scores
Dr. Ovidiu Ionut Saracutu1, Prof. Daniele Manfredini1, Dr. Alessandro Bracci2, Dr. Edoardo Ferrari Cagidiaco1, Prof. Marco Ferrari1, Dr. Anna Colonna1
1 Department of Medical Biotechnologies, School of Dentistry, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy,
2 Department of Neurosciences, School of Dentistry, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Objectives
The main aim of this study was to investigate the association between the psychological status and the frequency of awake bruxism behaviors assessed via the EMA approach in a sample of undergraduate dentistry students. The null hypothesis is that there is no statistically significant difference in the frequency of awake bruxism behaviors in students with different psychological statuses.
Materials and Methods
The frequency of five oral behaviors (i.e., relaxed jaw muscle, teeth contact, mandible bracing, teeth clenching, teeth grinding) was evaluated using a smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach. The anxiety and depression status was investigated with the four-item patient health questionnaire for anxiety and depression (PHQ-4). ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test was used to assess the difference in frequency of AB behaviors among the four PHQ-4 groups: group 1 normal (0-2), group 2 mild (3-5), group 3 moderate (6-8), group 4 severe (9-12).
Results
The difference in AB frequency among the four groups was statistically significant for relaxed jaw muscle (77.3%), teeth contact (13.4%), mandible bracing (6.9%), and teeth clenching (2.5%) but not for teeth grinding (0.4%). Based on these findings, the null hypothesis was rejected. The post-hoc analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the frequency of mandible bracing for the four groups. The frequency of relaxed jaw muscle condition was statistically different for all four groups, except between group 1 and group 2. Teeth clenching frequency was statistically different between group 1 and group 3, as well as between group 2 and group 3. Teeth contact frequency was statistically different between group 1 and group 3. No statistically significant difference was present between the four groups in terms of alert response rate.
Conclusions
Based on this study’s findings, psyche seems to have a determinant impact on AB behaviors. The degree of psychological impairment seems to be correlated with the AB frequency. Thus, the patient’s psychological status could be a possible explanation for significantly elevated bruxism behaviors.