title: Status of occlusal contact during sleep bruxism in patients who visited dental clinics - A study using a Bruxchecker®.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bruxism-induced mechanical load causes various dental problems, and its treatment is challenging. The present study analyzed upper and lower tooth contacts to determine actual occlusal contact during sleep bruxism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tooth contact patterns were analyzed in 49 patients attending dental clinics, using a Bruxchecker®, cephalograms, and condylographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 80% of individuals demonstrated contact from the anterior teeth to the molar region (ICPM); about 96% had mediotrusive grinding and contact. The tooth contact area increased with the flatness of the anterior occlusal plane. The ratio of the contact area of the anterior teeth to the overall tooth contact area increased with overbite. Bilateral ICPM and mediotrusive contact patterns were associated with a high frequency of temporomandibular disorder symptoms, clicking, and/or pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tooth contact area, anterior occlusal plane, and overbite are closely related, suggesting that tooth contact with the anterior teeth should be controlled with occlusal therapy.
authors.affiliation: a General Dentistry AOKI , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Chikataka
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0473-3212
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tago
authors.affiliation: b Department of Craniofacial Growth and Development , Kanagawa Dental University , Kanagawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: c Research Institute of Occlusion Medicine, Kanagawa Dental University , Kanagawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Sadao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D020186:Sleep Bruxism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
keywords: Bruxchecker®; bruxism; mediotrusive contact; occlusal plane; occlusion; overbite; temporomandibular disorder; tooth contact pattern