Sleep Bruxism Linked to Higher TMD Recurrence Post-Treatment: Study
Researchers have found in a new study that sleep bruxism significantly increases the risk of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) recurrence within six months after treatment. It was that despite notable improvements in pain, jaw function, and mouth opening following physical therapy, 25% of patients experienced recurrence. Daytime oral behaviors improved, but nocturnal bruxism persisted. The analysis identified bruxism as an independent risk factor, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.41.
Oral behaviours are risk factors for temporomandibular disorder (TMD), but the associations between oral behaviours and TMD prognosis remain unclear. A study was to assess the effect of oral behaviours on TMD prognosis. This single-centre retrospective study included 99 TMD patients (12 males and 87 females, median age: 28 years) who received physical therapy between January and August 2022 and completed a 6-month follow-up. Pain intensity, mouth opening, jaw function and oral behaviours were assessed at baseline. At follow-up, disease recurrence and the abovementioned indicators were assessed. Paired-samples t tests were used to compare pain, mouth opening and jaw function before and after treatment. Chi-squared tests were used to assess changes in oral behaviours. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for TMD recurrence. p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. TMD recurrence was reported by 25 patients, yielding a recurrence rate of 25%. After physical therapy, the patients' pain, mouth opening and jaw function significantly improved (p < 0.001). The oral behaviour during waking hours was effectively corrected (p < 0.05); however, it was difficult to improve nocturnal oral behaviour (p > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that sleep bruxism was an independent risk factor for TMD recurrence (OR = 4.411, p = 0.023). Sleep bruxism is a significant risk factor for TMD recurrence. Close attention should be given to whether TMD patients have a habit of sleep bruxism.
Reference:
Yang Y, Qin JX, Yao Y, Liu SS, Zeng H, Fang ZY, Xu LL, Cai B. Sleep Bruxism Is a Significant Risk Factor for the Recurrence of Temporomandibular Disorder: A Single-Center Retrospective Study. J Oral Rehabil. 2025 May 2. doi: 10.1111/joor.13991. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40317789.
Keywords:
Sleep, Bruxism, Linked, Higher, TMD, Recurrence, Post-Treatment, Study, oral behaviour; physical therapy; recurrence; sleep bruxism; temporomandibular disorder, Yang Y, Qin JX, Yao Y, Liu SS, Zeng H, Fang ZY, Xu LL, Cai B
