title: Relationship between maximal bite force and tooth wear in bruxist and non-bruxist individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (i) To compare individuals with self-reported bruxism and non-bruxist individuals in terms of maximal bite force (MBF) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) primary assessment parameters and (ii) to examine the relationship between MBF and tooth wear in these subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine bruxist subjects and 29 healthy controls were enrolled. MBF measurements were carried out by the use of bite force recorder. Tooth wear indices, maximal mouth opening, maximal lateral excursions and maximal protrusions were measured for every subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MBF and tooth wear index scores were significantly higher in bruxists (p values <0.05) compared to non-bruxists. MBF and tooth wear index scores were found to be significantly correlated in the bruxist group (r=0.79, p=0.00). Less significant correlation was observed in the non-bruxist group (r=0.38, p=0.04). No differences in masticatory clinical examination parameters were identified between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to show that MBF can increase in bruxist individuals and that the increase in MBF are correlated with tooth wear in bruxist subjects. Further studies regarding the possible role of MBF in bruxism are to be done.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul, Turkey. demirhan1@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Demirhan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dıraçoğlu
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alptekin
authors.forename: Ebru Demet
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Cifter
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Güçlü
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karan
authors.forename: Cihan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aksoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D002012:Bruxism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057085:Tooth Wear