The validity of tooth grinding measures: etiology of pain dysfunction syndrome revisited.
The current study explores the proposition that a treating clinician's etiologic model influences patients' reports of tooth grinding, the validity of, and subsequent research findings relying on these measures. The investigation compares self-reports of tooth grinding and related clinical variables for 151 cases of temporomandibular pain and dysfunction syndrome (TMPDS) treated by a clinician who does not explicitly support the grinding theory of the etiology of TMPDS, and 139 healthy controls. Cases were no more likely than well controls to report ever-grinding, but were actually significantly less likely than well controls to report current grinding. They were also significantly more likely to report that a dentist had told them they ground. Findings suggest that studies using self-report, clinician-report of tooth grinding (or both) are methodologically inadequate for addressing the relationship between tooth grinding and TMPDS.
Marbach
J J
JJ
Public Health Division of Sociomedical Sciences, School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York.
Raphael
K G
KG
Dohrenwend
B P
BP
Lennon
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015982:Bias; D002012:Bruxism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000175:diagnosis