Sandbox:remotework

# Bruxism
Bruxism is defined as repeated involuntary grinding and clenching of teeth which can occur either diurnal or nocturnally. In 1907 Marie Pielkiewics coined a french term 'La Bruxomanie" for bruxism. Bruxism can be classified into awake bruxism and sleep bruxism based on the physiological sleep status of the individual. Etiology of bruxism can be categorized into three groups psychosocial factors, peripheral factors and pathophysiological factors. Multifactorial etiology causes involving brain neurotransmitters or basal ganglia. Bruxism affects men and women equally. Factors associated with an increased risk of bruxism include Obstructive sleep apnea, Alcohol abuse, caffeine intake, Smoking, Anxiety. The symptoms of bruxism, usually develop in the first decade of life, and start with symptoms such as appearance of the first primary upper and lower anterior teeth. Common complications of bruxism are tooth wear, tooth hypersensitivity. Bruxism is primarily diagnosed based on the clinical presentation. H/o complain of disturbance from the clicking or grating sound by the accompanied partners.The most common symptoms of bruxism include Involuntary rhythmic contractions of the masticator muscles during sleep. Removal of any offending agent responsible for bruxism is primary step in the management. Surgery is the main stay of treatment in the management of bruxism.

# Historical Perspective
- In 1907 Marie Pielkiewics coined a french term 'La Bruxomanie"  for bruxism.
- In 1931, Frohman first coined the term English term bruxism.

# Classification
Bruxism can be classified into awake bruxism and sleep bruxism based on the physiological sleep status of the individual.

# Causes
Etiology of bruxism can be categorized into three groups psychosocial factors, peripheral factors and pathophysiological factors.

# Pathophysiology
- Bruxism is caused by the activation of reflex chewing activity; it is not a learned habit.
- Chewing is a complex neuromuscular activity that is controlled by reflex nerve pathways, with higher control by the brain.
- During sleep, the reflex part is active while the higher control is inactive, resulting in bruxism. In most people, bruxism is mild enough not to be a health problem; however, some people suffer from significant bruxism that can become symptomatic.
- As stated bruxism is considered to have multifactorial etiology. Multifactorial etiology causes involving brain neurotransmitters or basal ganglia.
- Pathophysiological Factors
As bruxism often occurs during sleep, the physiology of sleep has been studied extensively especially the arousal response in search of possible causes of disorder.
Arousal response is a sudden change in the depth of the sleep during which the individual either arrives in the lighter sleep stage or actually wakes up.
Such a response is accompanied by gross body movements, increased heart rate, respiratory changes, and increased muscle activity.
It is derived that disturbances in central neurotransmitter system may be involved in the etiology of bruxism.
It is hypothesized that the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglion, a group of five subcortical nuclei that are involved in the coordination of movements is disturbed in bruxer.
The direct output pathway goes directly from the stratum to the thalamus from where afferent signals project to the cerebral cortex. The indirect pathway on the other hand passes by several other nuclei before reaching it to the thalamus.
If there is imbalance between both the pathways, movement disorder results like Parkinsons disease.
The imbalance occurs with the disturbances in the dopamine-mediated transmission of an action potential. In case of bruxism there may be an imbalance in both pathways.
Acute use of dopamine precursors like L-dopa inhibits bruxism activity and chronic long term use of l-dopa results in increased bruxism activity. SSRTs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) which exert an indirect influence on the dopaminergic system may cause bruxism after long term use.
Amphetamine which increases the dopamine concentration by facilitating its release has been observed to increase bruxism.
Nicotine stimulates central dopaminergic activities which might explain the finding that cigarette smokers report bruxism two times more than the nonsmokers.
- As bruxism often occurs during sleep, the physiology of sleep has been studied extensively especially the arousal response in search of possible causes of disorder.
- Arousal response is a sudden change in the depth of the sleep during which the individual either arrives in the lighter sleep stage or actually wakes up.
- Such a response is accompanied by gross body movements, increased heart rate, respiratory changes, and increased muscle activity.
- It is derived that disturbances in central neurotransmitter system may be involved in the etiology of bruxism.
- It is hypothesized that the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglion, a group of five subcortical nuclei that are involved in the coordination of movements is disturbed in bruxer.
- The direct output pathway goes directly from the stratum to the thalamus from where afferent signals project to the cerebral cortex. The indirect pathway on the other hand passes by several other nuclei before reaching it to the thalamus.
- If there is imbalance between both the pathways, movement disorder results like Parkinsons disease.
- The imbalance occurs with the disturbances in the dopamine-mediated transmission of an action potential. In case of bruxism there may be an imbalance in both pathways.
- Acute use of dopamine precursors like L-dopa inhibits bruxism activity and chronic long term use of l-dopa results in increased bruxism activity. SSRTs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) which exert an indirect influence on the dopaminergic system may cause bruxism after long term use.
- Amphetamine which increases the dopamine concentration by facilitating its release has been observed to increase bruxism.
- Nicotine stimulates central dopaminergic activities which might explain the finding that cigarette smokers report bruxism two times more than the nonsmokers.
- Psychosocial Factors
There is no proper description of conclusive nature of psychological factors role in bruxism because of the absence of large scale longitudinal trials.
- There is no proper description of conclusive nature of psychological factors role in bruxism because of the absence of large scale longitudinal trials.

# Differential Diagnosis
The etiology of bruxism is unknown; the following factors may be associated with the condition.

# Epidemiology and Demographics
Bruxism often occurs during sleep and can even occur during short naps. Bruxism is one of the most common sleep disorders: 30 to 40 million Americans grind their teeth during sleep.

### Gender
- Bruxism affects men and women equally.

### Age
- Bruxism commonly affects individuals younger than 6 years of age and its incidence declines as age increases.

# Screening
There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for bruxism.

# Risk Factors
Factors associated with an increased risk of bruxism include:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Alcohol abuse
- Caffeine intake
- Smoking
- Anxiety

# Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

## Natural History
- The symptoms of bruxism, usually develop in the first decade of life, and start with symptoms such as appearance of the first primary upper and lower anterior teeth.
- The symptoms of bruxism typically develop in childhood and may persist into adult due to presence of other risk factors.
- Usually bruxism follows a benign course.
- If left untreated bruxism can lead to hypertrophy of masseter muscle accompanied by tenderness of TMJ, which  manifests as otalgia.

## Complications
Common complications of bruxism are
- Tooth wear
- Tooth hypersensitivity
- Tooth mobility
- Pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw musculature
- Temporal headache,
- Poor sleep
- Signs of this parafunctional habit
Indentation on the tongue
Presence of linea alba along the biting plane of the buccal mucosa
Gingival recessions
- Indentation on the tongue
- Presence of linea alba along the biting plane of the buccal mucosa
- Gingival recessions

# Diagnosis

## Diagnostic study of choice
Bruxism is primarily diagnosed based on the clinical presentation.
- History of tooth grinding during sleep
- Confirmation by parents or bed partners.

## History
- H/o complain of disturbance from the clicking or grating sound by the accompanied partners.

## Symptoms
The most common symptoms of bruxism include
- Involuntary rhythmic contractions of the masticator muscles during sleep.
- Secondary symptoms may develop due to forceful grinding in some  patients which include:
Morning headaches
Jaw pain
Clicking in the temporomandibular joints
- Morning headaches
- Jaw pain
- Clicking in the temporomandibular joints
- Dental deformities may be seen however not disease specific not limited to
Thermal sensitivity in the teeth
Hypermobility
Need for dental restorations
Tooth wear  on tooth surfaces that contact during biting or chewing
Lateral grinding forces in particular can be particularly destructive.
- Thermal sensitivity in the teeth
- Hypermobility
- Need for dental restorations
- Tooth wear  on tooth surfaces that contact during biting or chewing
- Lateral grinding forces in particular can be particularly destructive.
- Sever cases of bruxism do present with
injury to soft tissues of the mouth
Dental fractures
Difficulty with chewing
Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction
Head and neck pain
- injury to soft tissues of the mouth
- Dental fractures
- Difficulty with chewing
- Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction
- Head and neck pain

# Treatment

## Medical Therapy
- Removal of any offending agent responsible for bruxism is primary step in the management.
- Wait-and-see approach is recommended in cases with medical induced bruxism, as spontaneous remission is ensured with the cessation of the offending agent.
- Pharmacotherapy mainly concentrated to alleviate symptoms
- Buspirone and Gabapentin are the two recommended medications to manage bruxism
Preferred regimen 1 : Buspirone 15 to 20 mg/day  PO q12.
Preferred regimen 2: Gabapentin 100 to 300 mg PO q24
- Preferred regimen 1 : Buspirone 15 to 20 mg/day  PO q12.
- Preferred regimen 2: Gabapentin 100 to 300 mg PO q24

## Surgery
Surgery is the main stay of treatment in the management of bruxism.

### Indications
The treatment of bruxism is indicated when there are any of these possible consequences:
- Mechanical wear of the teeth, which results in loss of occlusal morphology and flattening of the occlusal surfaces
- Hypersensitive teeth
- Loss of periodontal support
- Tooth fractures
- Restorations fractures, usually class I and class II restorations, fracture of crowns, and fixed partial prosthesis
- Restorations or dental implants failure
- Hypertrophy of masticatory muscles
- Tenderness and stiffness in jaw muscles
- When bruxism leads to limited mouth opening
- Temporomandibular pain
- Pain in the preauricular region

# Labrynthitis