A comprehensive method to classify subgroups of bruxers in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) individuals: frequency, clinical and psychological implications

Introduction: Bruxism is an oral pnenomenon described as a parafunctional activity involving nocturnal and/or diurnal tooth clenching and/or grinding which may cause teeth wearing, fatigue, pain in the muscles and temporomandibular joints and limitations in mandibular movements. Objective: To classify bruxers in four different subgroups. Material and methods: Evaluation of 162 individuals presenting temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) referred consecutively over a period of six years. Chief complaint, history of signs/symptoms and clinical examination were used to gather data. Individuals were classified as TMDs if they were seeking active treatment for the following complaints: pain in the masticatory muscles and/or temporomandibular joints (TMJs), difficulties to perform normal jaw movements, tenderness to palpation of muscle and joints, joint noises and. Patients were classified as mild, moderate, severe and extreme bruxers if they presented 3 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 15 or 16 to 25 signs and symptoms of bruxing behavior, respectively. Data was submitted to Chi-square for independence and Fisher’s exact test (p < 0.05). Results: Frequencies of 16.1%, 29.6%, 31.5% and 22.8% of mild, moderate, severe and extreme bruxing behavior were found in this study. Moderate and severe bruxing behavior occurred more frequently than mild and extreme bruxing behavior (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The four groups of bruxers occurred more or less frequently in this study and mild and extreme bruxing behavior demonstrated the lowest frequencies of such behavior.