The relationship of bruxism with craniofacial pain and symptoms from the masticatory system in the adult population

The association of bruxism with craniofacial pain and symptoms of dysfuncti on of the masticatory system was assessed in a sample of 483 adult subjects , aged 18-75 years and selected from the general population living in the m unicipality of Segrate, a metropolitan area in northern Italy. Subjects wer e interviewed by a questionnaire about oral conditions, occurrence of sympt oms of masticatory disturbances, craniofacial and neck pain. The overall pr evalence of bruxism was 31.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.3-35.5%). A t univariate analysis bruxism was significantly associated with craniofacia l. pain, difficulty in closing the mouth, difficulty in opening the mouth w ide or in locking the mouth, temporomandibular joint sounds, pain on moveme nt, a feeling of stiffness or fatigue of the jaws, and neck pain. After adj ustment for reciprocal influences and confounding variables, logistic regre ssion analysis disclosed a strong independent association of bruxism with d ifficulty in closing the mouth (adjusted odds ratio, (OR): 2.84, 95% CI: 1. 68-4.48), and a weaker relationship with craniofacial pain (adjusted OR: 1. 84, 95 % CI: 1.16-2.93) and temporomandibular joint sounds (adjusted OR: 1. 64, 95% CI: 1.00-2.69). The findings show that in the general adult populat ion there is a complex connection among bruxism, craniofacial pain and symp toms of masticatory disturbances. Furthermore, they suggest that the most d irect relationship of bruxism may be with difficulties in mouth movements, but also an independent association may exist with craniofacial pain and ot her symptoms of temporomandibular disorder.