Prevalence of Modalities of Headaches and Bruxism Among Patients with Craniomandibular Disorder

ABSTRACT

This study compared the presence of headache and bruxing behavior among 133 craniomandibular disorder patients (CMD) referred to the The Center For the Study Of Craniomandibular Disorders and to the presence of headache and bruxing behavior occurring in 133 controls seeking routine dental care. Both patients and controls were consecutive referrals to the clinic occurring over a three year period. The mean age of the CMD group was 38 years (range 28–42), and the mean age of the controls was 37 years (range 25–44). The information gathered included questionnaire and clinical examination. Different types of headaches, signs and symptoms of CMD, and bruxing behavior were assessed both in the CMD group and in the corresponding control group. Results of this study showed that bruxing behavior and headache pain were significantly more prevalent in the CMD group (57%, 76%) than in the corresponding control group (37%, 49%). Of the three types of headache observed, tension and combination headaches were more prevalent in the CMD group (n=48=36% and n=37=28%). Migraine headache was more prevalent in the CMD group (n=16=12%) than in the control group (n=3=2%). It was concluded that headache and bruxing behavior predominated in CMD patients. This data reinforces the need to assess headache pain and signs and symptoms of bruxing behavior in CMD patients, particularly in those suffering chronic facial pain and headache.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Omar Franklin Molina

Dr. Omar Franklin Molina received his D.D.S. in 1978 from Stale University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and his M.S. degree in 1983 from the State University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He specialized in orthodontics at the State University, Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 1983–84 and has attended advanced courses in occlusion and CMD in the United States. Dr. Molina is a member of the American Equilibration Society since 1987. He has lectured on occlusion, facial pain and parafunctional habits in Brazil and published two books through Pancast in Sño Paulo, Brazil. Currently, he is an instructor of advanced courses in CMD at The Brazilian Institute of Orthodontics, Rio de Janiero, Brazil and is a member of The Center for Study of Craniomandibular Disorders, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

José dos Santos

Dr. José dos Santos received his D.D.S. degree in 1959 from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Formerly he was an adjunct professor at the same university from 1962–79. He received an M.S. degree from Rackham Institute of Graduate Studies, University cf Michigan in 1969. He is a full-time tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Occlusion and Orofacial Pain/Temporomandibular Joint Clinic at the University of Michigan since 1980. He is Director of Programs, Continuing Education Courses for Brazilian Dentists in the United States. Currently Dr. dos Santos is a full-time tenured Full Professor at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio. He is a member of the following: American Equilibration Society, American Association of Dental Research, and Association of University TMD and Orofacial Pain Programs. He has published several articles and books in Brazil, Latin-America, United States and England.

Stanley J. Nelson

Dr. Stanley J. Nelson received an M.S. degree (restorative dentistry, occlusion) from the University of Michigan. He has published a number of papers and has lectured extensively in the United States and other countries. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry/Occlusion at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio. Dr. Nelson is a member of the American Association of Dental Schools, the American Equilibration Society, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Eduardo Grossman

Dr. Eduardo Grossman received a D.D.S. degree in 1985 from Catholic University, Porto Alegre, Brazil. He received an M.S. degree from the same university in 1988. After some years of teaching and specialized practice in oral, maxillofacial surgery and TMD, he became an instructor of graduate studies at the same university and received his Ph.D. degree in 1996. Dr. Grossman has lectured extensively on occlusion, CMD and chronic facial pain and has authored two books on oral surgery and CMD in Brazil. He is currently a member of The Center for the Study of Craniomandibular Disorders.