Current Methods of Bruxism Diagnosis: A Short Communication

PURPOSE

To assess the current diagnostic methods for sleep bruxism (SB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review of the literature evaluates all available instrumental and noninstrumental methods of bruxism/SB diagnosis.

RESULTS

SB diagnosis can be performed using self-reports and clinical examination, but these methods have little agreement with polysomnography. Two portable electromyography/electrocardiography appliances have been validated against polysomnography (BiteStrip and Bruxoff), but they are indicated only for primary SB. Polysomnography is considered the gold standard and is indicated for secondary SB; however, it is expensive and time-consuming.

CONCLUSION

No perfect method of SB diagnosis exists, and future research should concentrate on improving SB self-reports.

Relationship Between Clinical Variables and Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adult Subjects With Cystic Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has received much attention in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between clinical, lung function, sleep quality, and polysomnographic variables with 2 HRQOL questionnaires, the shorter-version World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) and Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life (CFQOL) questionnaires, in adult subjects with CF.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 51 subjects underwent clinical evaluation and overnight polysomnography and answered WHOQOL-BREF, CFQOL, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires. In addition, pulmonary function tests, 6-min walk tests, and echocardiography were performed.

RESULTS

For WHOQOL-BREF scores, the sleep quality index was associated with the physical domain; the percent-of-predicted 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and sleepiness scale were associated with the psychological domain; the percent-of-predicted FEV1 and sleep quality index were associated with the social relationship domain; and the sleep quality index was associated with the environment domain. For CFQOL scores, age at diagnosis, clinical score, and sleep quality index were associated with the physical functioning domain; the percent-of-predicted 6MWD and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure were associated with the role domain; sex and sleep quality index were associated with the vitality domain; the apnea-hypopnea index was associated with the emotional functioning domain; sex and body mass index (BMI) were associated with the body image domain; the percent-of-predicted 6MWD and sleep quality index were associated with the health perception domain; age, sex, BMI, and arousal index were associated with the weight domain; age, sex, percent-of-predicted FEV1, percent-of-predicted 6MWD, and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure were associated with the respiratory symptom domain; and the clinical score was associated with the digestive symptom domain.

CONCLUSIONS

The sleep quality index score, 6MWD, sleepiness scale score, and FEV1 were predictors of WHOQOL-BREF scores. Age at diagnosis, clinical score, sleep quality score, 6MWD, sex, apnea-hypopnea index, BMI, current age, arousal index, FEV1, and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure were predictors of CFQOL scores.

Respiratory and sleep disorders in mucopolysaccharidosis

MPS encompasses a group of rare lysosomal storage disorders that are associated with the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in organs and tissues. This accumulation can lead to the progressive development of a variety of clinical manifestations. Ear, nose, throat (ENT) and respiratory problems are very common in patients with MPS and are often among the first symptoms to appear. Typical features of MPS include upper and lower airway obstruction and restrictive pulmonary disease, which can lead to chronic rhinosinusitis or chronic ear infections, recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections, obstructive sleep apnoea, impaired exercise tolerance, and respiratory failure. This review provides a detailed overview of the ENT and respiratory manifestations that can occur in patients with MPS and discusses the issues related to their evaluation and management.

Analysis of the influence of a mandibular advancement device on sleep and sleep bruxism scores by means of the BiteStrip and the Sleep Assessment Questionnaire

PURPOSE

A before-and-after experimental clinical study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of a mandibular advancement device (MAD; 75% advancement), made of a thermoplastic material, on sleep bruxism (SB) and sleep scores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After a habituation period of 1 week, SB scores were taken at baseline and after use of the MAD for 30 days. Scores were compared using the newly developed BiteStrip, which registers the number of contractions of the unilateral masseter muscle after a 5-hour period, giving a severity score from 0 to 3 after the registrations. To assess sleep, the Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), a screening tool with scores ranging from 0 to 68, was used before and after use of the MAD. Twenty-eight subjects (13 women, 15 men; mean age: 42.9 +/- 12.0 years) with a clinical history of SB and no spontaneous temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain were selected. The clinical diagnosis of either moderate or severe SB was further confirmed through use of the BiteStrip (scores 2 or 3) at baseline. A 30-day follow-up period was used for evaluation. Both methods were validated against polysomnography. In addition, common signs and symptoms of TMD based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders were also evaluated before and after use to assess the side effects of the MAD.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant improvement in both SB and sleep scores based on the BiteStrip and the SAQ (Wilcoxon signed rank and Student paired t test, P < .05). In the signs and symptoms of TMD, there was a significant reduction in temporomandibular joint sounds as well as in masseter and temporalis tenderness to palpation. None of the SB subjects experienced any breakage of the MAD.

CONCLUSION

The MAD had a positive effect on SB and sleep scores, measured by the BiteStrip and the SAQ, respectively, and did not increase any traditional signs and symptoms of TMD in a 30-day evaluation period.

Nocturnal reflux in children and adolescents with persistent asthma and gastroesophageal reflux

BACKGROUND

A higher frequency of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in adult patients with respiratory symptoms has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of nocturnal GER by using prolonged intraesophageal pH monitoring and compare it with spirometry results in children with persistent asthma.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients with persistent asthma for at least 2 years were studied. Gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of GER were considered as regurgitation, heartburn, and abdominal pain. All patients underwent prolonged intraesophageal pH study and spirometry. GER was considered positive when a reflux index (RI) was higher than 5%. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF(25-75%)), and FEV(1)/FVC ratio were measured.

RESULTS

Median age was 10 years of age (range 5 to 15) and 58% were male; GER prevalence was 47.3%. Median (range) of reflux index during supine and upright periods from GER patients were, respectively, 8.7% (3.2 to 23.6) and 10.5% (5.2 to 15.0) (p = 0.913), and only FEF(25-75%) was below the predicted value: 54.5% (39.4 to 96.9). Reflux index was not significantly correlated with FVC, FEV(1) and FEF(25-75%).

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of GER was found in children and adolescents with persistent asthma, equally distributed in the supine (nocturnal) and upright positions. There was no correlation with pulmonary function test.