DESCRIPTIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA ON A SLEEP BRUXISM POPULATION

We studied 24 bruxers (23-67 years old). They often complained of orof acial and bodily pain and presented autonomic symptoms (sweating 23%, palpitations at night 62%, decreased libido 50%); 19% had increased bl ood pressure requiring treatment, and 65% reported frequent headaches in the morning. Deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) were delayed. An average of 167 orofacial episodes developed during the night. The m ean number of masseter bursts strictly defined as bruxism was 79, the mean delay for the first occurrence after sleep onset 18 minutes. The majority of bruxism occurred in stage 2, sleep and REM sleep. The mean number of shifts of sleep stages was 70, one-third occurring within t he first minute following a bruxing episode, and 15% of bruxing episod es developed after a shift in sleep stage. Electroencephalogram showed alpha-delta pattern in 15% of the subjects. Short-lasting alpha activ ity was often encountered during the 10 seconds preceding the developm ent of a bruxing episode. Tachycardia developed at its onset, persisti ng for 10 seconds. we suggest that, as a minor alarm response to endog enous/exogenous stimuli, arousal develops and is often followed by mot or activation, such asa burst of bruxing, with, as in any situation wh en motor activity suddenly increases, a secondary increase of heart ac tivity.