Current developments in bruxism identification

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Bruxism is a parafunctional activity that can have several causes. Patients with bruxism need an interdisciplinary approach to treatment planning and individual-ized treatment options. The present study evaluates dentists' knowledge of the bruxism condi-tion and their need for further education. Diagnosis and treatment methods used by practicians from different specialties are emphasized. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional, observational, and analytical cohort study was conducted. It employed a questionnaire based on information on etiology, diagnosis, and treatment methods and included data from 80 dental practitioners from Cluj County. Results: Most dentists (81.3%) recognized awake and sleep bruxism as separate entities. Most participants identified psychological status as the primary etiological factor (80%), followed by occlusal interferences (13.8%) and other factors (genetics). Anamnesis and clinical examination were performed for bruxism diagnosis (90%). Occlusal balance (%) and occlusal splints (%) were the most encountered treatment methods. Only 27.5% of the practitioners referred patients to other specialists. Physiotherapy and psychotherapy were the primary interdisciplinary ap-proaches. Cognitive behavioral therapy was employed by 43.8%, whereas pharmaceutical ther-apy by 20% of the practitioners. Conclusions. There is a need for standardized training among dentists due to a lack of infor-mation on this topic. When combined with an interdisciplinary approach, complementary diag-nostic methods such as polysomnography and BruxApp can yield accurate diagnosis.

Keywords

• bruxism
• occlusion
• stress
• polysomnography