The Bruxism Triad Sleep Bruxism, Sleep Disturbance, and Sleep-related Gerd. Sleep Stages and Arousal Response

Bruxism is defined as a diurnal and nocturnal parafunctional activity that includes clenching, bracing, gnashing, and grinding of teeth.1 the damage from bruxism is a reality in the everyday practice of dentistry and yet there is a great deal of confusion and controversy. dental professionals do not even agree on the relative number of people who brux. the estimates range from 5% to 95% of the population.2-4 Many dentists focus on the patients who present with wear to determine rates of bruxism. tooth wear, however, is a poor indicator of bruxism since attrition may play only a small role in tooth destruction and may not be indicative of an ongoing problem.5 the smaller estimates limit the patients to sleep bruxers. sleep bruxism (sB) is the grinding or clenching of the teeth during sleep, usually associated with sleep arousals.6 to date, the pathophysiology for sB has not been definitively determined. research points to neurochemistry, autonomic system, and sleep arousals as possible triggers.7,8 this article will restrict its focus to a unique subset of the bruxing population: the sleep bruxer. this group is extremely destructive to their teeth and systemic health. Additionally, this article will discuss the significance of the bruxism triad: sleep bruxism, sleep disturbance, and sleep-related gastroesophageal reflux.