Evaluation of sleep bruxism and temporomandibular disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Chronic renal failure can cause anxiety, stress, and decrease the life quality. Therefore, this may lead to sleep bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and related health problems. Aim: This study evaluated the incidence of sleep bruxism and TMDs in patients undergoing hemodialysis and compared it with that of healthy individuals. Subjects and Methods: A total of 137 patients (68 hemodialysis patients and 69 healthy individuals) participated in this study. They all filled out a form about age, sex, educational status, marital status, sleep disorders, sleep bruxism, temporomandibular problems, and ice/hard things chewing habits. We performed a muscle examination and used a questionnaire to evaluate the causes of TMD. Parafunctional habits and emotional stress status were examined with these YES/NO question forms. Teeth attritions and six common symptoms (limited mouth opening, deviation/deflexion, clicking, muscle sensitivity, pain, and presence of linea alba) of TMDs and sleep bruxism were evaluated via a clinical examination. The level of significance was determined at P < 0.05. Results: Parafunctional habits such as sleep bruxism (55.1%) (P = 0.010), emotional stress (69.1%) (P = 0.006), sleep disorders (47,1%) (P = 0.000), unilateral chewing (54.4%) (P = 0.040), gum-chewing (45.6%) (P = 0.000), ice chewing (23.5%) (P = 0,000), and hard things biting habits (7.4%) (P = 0.028) were statistically higher in the hemodialysis group than the control group. Deviation/deflexion and presence of linea alba were more frequent in the hemodialysis group than the control group. Conclusions: It can be concluded that hemodialysis patients are more sensitive to TMDs, sleep bruxism and related dental health problems than healthy individuals.