Ultrasonographic evaluation of jaw elevator muscles in young adults with bruxism and with and without attrition-type tooth wear: A pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objective

This pilot study was planned to analyze masticatory activation in bruxism patients with and without attrition by ultrasonographic evaluation of mandibular adductor muscles.

Methods

Sixty bruxism patients (group 1: 30 without attrition, group 2: 30 with attrition) and an age-sex matched control of 30 (group 3) were clinically examined. The thickness of bilateral temporalis and masseter muscles during clench and rest was measured by ultrasonography.

Results

The mean muscle thicknesses were higher in bruxing patients than in controls. In group 2, the clench/rest ratio (C/R) of the right and left masseter and temporal muscles were higher than the control group (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, p = 0.04, p = 0.03, respectively).

Conclusion

The thickness of chewing muscles increases with bruxism. The occlusal forces in the teeth increase, and therefore, the tooth wear increases. Ultrasonographic muscle thickness can be used to determine muscle activity in bruxism patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Attrition
• bruxism
• masseter muscle
• temporal muscle
• ultrasonography

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors did not receive any funding for this study or support from a corporation.