Clinical investigation of the effects of masseter muscle hypertrophy due to bruxism on periodontium and teeth

Bruxism, which has been the subject of many studies until today, cannot be attributed to a single etiological factor; It is a concept that is related to many physiological, psychological and biomechanical factors. In addition, it is a parafunctional habit that can have negative consequences on these factors, progressing cumulatively and increasing its destructive effect over time. It is of great importance to detect bruxism symptoms without causing pathology and to apply before treatment. For bruxism diagnostic methods; questionnaire forms, clinical findings and complementary methods are used. In our study, the patients were grouped as those with and without bruxists, using the questionnaire form and clinical intraoral symptoms. The aim of our study is to determine the role of masseter muscle hypertrophy caused by bruxism in the destruction of this parafunction on teeth and periodontium. Masseter muscle volumes were measured using ultrasonography in both groups. Measurements were made at rest and during firm biting and repeated after five minutes of waiting. The existing damages in the teeth and periodontium of the patients were transferred to the follow-up charts. A statistically significant relationship was observed between bruxism and changes in tongue edges, presence of linea alba, abfraction defect, attrusion defect, periodontal ligament enlargement, presence of McCall Festoon or Stillman cleft. It was determined that the increase in the index in favor of bruxism in the given questionnaire increased the risk of bruxism by 1.02 times and according to the survey data, 42.6% of the bruxist patients were found to be aware of their parafunction. After ultrasonographic measurements, the damage observed in teeth and periodontal tissues due to bruxism was associated with the duration and frequency of the external force that the teeth were exposed to rather than muscle thickness. However, more clinical studies are needed to support our study results.