Periodontal Status and Bruxism

This study investigated a possible association between bruxism and severity of periodontal disease. Subjects consisted of 51 patients (mean age 47.3 years) referred to the Department of Periodontology for treatment of moderate to severe periodontal disease (Perio-group) and 40 patients (mean age 48.9 years) referred to the Department of Stomatognathic Physiology for treatment of symptoms related to bruxism (Bruxism-group). Examination of the two groups included measurements of the alveolar bone height, probing attachment level, tooth mobility, and attrition of teeth. A questionnaire was also used to gain information on the patient's awareness of bruxism and tooth mobility. Awareness of clenching and/or grinding was reported by 57% of patients in the Bruxism-group and 24% of patients in the Perio-group. The perio-patients reported significantly higher frequency of tooth mobility than did the bruxism-patients. Alveolar bone loss, attachment loss, and tooth mobility were significantly more pronounced in the Perio-group than in the Bruxism-group. The Bruxism-group showed a higher frequency of tooth attrition than the Perio-group. Periodontal disease and bruxism seldom occurred in the same individual, and the results indicate that the two phenomena are in general not closely associated.