Reported bruxism and biopsychosocial symptoms: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
In this follow-up study of 30-50-year-old employees (n = 211) of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), respondents completed questionnaires in both 1999 and 2000 containing items on demographic data, tobacco use, levels of perceived bruxism, affective disturbance, sleep disturbance, somatic symptoms, pain symptoms and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms.


RESULTS
Bruxism was significantly more prevalent among smokers (P = 0.005). Age, marital status, and gender were not associated with bruxism. Subjects in the frequent bruxism group (n = 74) reported the TMD-related painless symptoms, affective disturbance and early insomnia significantly more often than average. In the multivariate analyses, clustered pain symptoms (P = 0.001), TMD-related painless symptoms (P = 0.004) and smoking (P = 0.012) were significantly positively associated with frequent bruxism, when the independent effects of age and gender were controlled for.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that successful management of TMD necessitates smoking cessation, as tobacco use may both amplify the patient's pain response and provoke bruxism. Psychosocial factors and perceived stress should not be ignored, however.
Ahlberg
J
J
Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. jari.ahlberg@yle.fi
Savolainen
A
A
Rantala
M
M
Lindholm
H
H
Könönen
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002012:Bruxism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology