Time-variant nature of sleep bruxism outcome variables using ambulatory polysomnography: implications for recognition and therapy evaluation

• Published in: Journal of oral rehabilitation 2008-08, Vol.35 (8), p.577-584
• Main Authors: VAN DER ZAAG, J., LOBBEZOO, F., VISSCHER, C. M., HAMBURGER, H. L., NAEIJE, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; bruxism; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology); Dentistry; diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Masseter Muscle - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Polysomnography - methods; recognition; Sleep Bruxism - complications; Sleep Bruxism - physiopathology; Sleep Bruxism - therapy; Sleep Stages - physiology; Sleep, REM; therapy evaluation; Time Factors; variability
• ISSN: 0305-182X; 1365-2842
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2842.2008.01893.x

Summary  The aim of this study was to quantify the time‐variant nature of sleep bruxism (SB) and to discuss its consequences. Six clinically diagnosed bruxers and six non‐bruxers participated. Four ambulatory polysomnographic (PSG) recordings were obtained for every participant. As SB outcome variables, the number of episodes per hour of sleep (Epi h−1), the number of bursts per hour (Bur h−1) and the bruxism time index (BTI: the percentage of total sleep time spent bruxing) were established. To quantify the time‐variant nature of SB, standard errors of measurement (SEMs) were calculated. For the non‐bruxers, the SEMs for Epi h−1, Bur h−1 and BTI were 1·0, 5·7 and 0·1. For the bruxers, the respective values were 2·1, 14·9 and 0·4. In the discussion, arguments are given that because of the time‐variant nature of the PSG recordings, cut‐off bands around cut‐off points might be useful for the recognition of SB.