RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUVENILE BRUXING AND CRANIOMANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTION

A longitudinal study was conducted over 5 years to investigate the rel ationship between juvenile bruxing and craniomandibular disorders. A t otal of 150 bruxers between the ages of 6 and 9 years were examined fo r oral parafunctions and TMJ symptoms. Of these, 126 were re-examined for the same signs and symptoms after 5 years. The results showed that only 17 individuals had retained their bruxing habit. In common with other studies, we found that symptoms reduced with age. It was conclud ed that juvenile bruxing was a self-limiting condition which does not progress to adult bruxism and which appeared to be unrelated to TMJ sy mptoms.