Reported bruxism and stress experience - Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Reported bruxism and stress experience
Issue online:
09 Dec 2002
Submitted 21 August 2001;accepted 30 January 2002
To cite this article: J. Ahlberg, M. Rantala, A. Savolainen, T. Suvinen, M. Nissinen, S. Sarna, H. Lindholm, M. Kànànen (2002) Reported bruxism and stress experience
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 30 (6) , 405Ò408 doi:10.1034/j.1600-0528.2002.00007.x
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J. Ahlberg1,21Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, 2Finnish Broadcasting Company, Helsinki, , M. Rantala3,43Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 4Department of Special Dental Care, Helsinki City, Helsinki, , A. Savolainen1,21Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, 2Finnish Broadcasting Company, Helsinki, , T. Suvinen33Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, , M. Nissinen55Riihimâki District Hospital, Riihimâki, , S. Sarna66Institute of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, , H. Lindholm77Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland and M. Kànànen1,31Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, 3Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki,

Jari Ahlberg DDS, PhD, Chief Dental Officer, Finnish Broadcasting Company, P.O. Box 80, 00024 YLE Helsinki, Finland
e-mail: jari.ahlberg@yle.fi
Ahlberg J, Rantala M, Savolainen A, Suvinen T, Nissinen M, Sarna S, Lindholm H, Kànànen M. Reported bruxism and stress experience. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2002; 30: 405Ò8. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002

Abstract

Abstract Ò The aim of the study was to analyze whether perceived bruxism was associated with stress experience, age, gender, work role, and occupational health care use among a nonpatient multiprofessional population. Altogether, 1784 (age 30Ò55 years) employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company were mailed a self-administered questionnaire covering demographics, perceived bruxism, total stress experience and the use of health care services provided by the company. The response rate was 75% (n = 1339, 51% men) and mean age was 46 years (SD = 6) in both genders. There were no significant differences in demographic status by age and gender. Bruxism and stress experiences did not significantly vary with regard to category of work, but both were significantly more frequent among women (P < 0.05). In all work categories frequent bruxers reported more stress, and the perceptions were significantly differently polarized between the groups (P < 0.001). According to logistic regression, frequent bruxism was significantly positively associated with severe stress experience (Odds ratio = 5.00; 95% CI = 2.84Ò8.82) and female gender (Odds ratio = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.43Ò3.55). Frequent bruxism was also significantly positively associated with the numbers of occupational health care and dental visits (P < 0.01), and slightly negatively associated with increasing age and work in administration (P < 0.05). It was concluded that bruxism may reveal ongoing stress in normal work life.

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