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Frequency of daytime tooth clenching episodes in individuals affected by masticatory muscle pain and pain-free controls during standardized ability tasks

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Abstract

Objectives

Tooth clenching has been suggested to be related to temporomandibular pain. However, the electromyographic characteristics of daytime clenching episodes have been minimally investigated. This study aimed to analyze the frequency, amplitude, and duration of daytime clenching episodes in patients with masticatory muscle pain and pain-free individuals.

Methods

Fifteen women with masticatory muscles myalgia (MP group, mean ± SD age = 26.4 ± 7.6 years) matched for age to 18 pain-free women (CTR group, mean ± SD age = 25.3 ± 2.8 years) were submitted to three different ability tasks (filling out questionnaires for 40 min, reading for 20 min, and playing a videogame for 20 min). The electromyographic activity periods (AP) of the right masseter greater than 10 % (AP10), 20 % (AP20), and 30 % (AP30) of the maximum voluntary contraction were analyzed.

Results

The mean frequencies of AP10, AP20, and AP30 were greater in MP than in CTR individuals (all p < 0.05). The mean duration of AP10 was higher in MP group than CTR group only while filling out the questionnaires (p = 0.0033). CTR group had an increased frequency and duration of AP10 while playing the videogame than while reading a magazine. The ability tasks did not affect the muscle activity in the MP group.

Conclusions

Individuals with masticatory muscle pain have an increased frequency of both high and low-intense daytime clenching episodes. The type of ability task affects the frequency and the duration of clenching episodes only in pain-free individuals.

Clinical relevance

Clinicians should recognize that the frequency and intensity of daytime clenching are noticeably increased in individuals with masticatory muscle pain in order to better tailor treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Andrea Bottin and Dr. Alessio Bocci for their technical assistance and Dr. Paolo Chiodini for statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Center for The Study of Pain, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Iacopo Cioffi

  2. Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, Section of Orthodontics and Temporomandibular Disorders, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Iacopo Cioffi, Donatella Landino, Valeria Donnarumma & Ambrosina Michelotti

  3. Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Orthodontics, Dental School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Tommaso Castroflorio

  4. Department of Oral Kinesiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Frank Lobbezoo

Authors
  1. Iacopo Cioffi
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  2. Donatella Landino
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  3. Valeria Donnarumma
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  4. Tommaso Castroflorio
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  5. Frank Lobbezoo
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  6. Ambrosina Michelotti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iacopo Cioffi.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Tommaso Castroflorio was involved in the technical development of the Bruxoff Device.

Funding

This study was supported by the network of excellence STRAIN (Regione Campania) at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, through a research fellowship.

Informed consent

All participants gave their informed consent prior to the inclusion in the study.

Ethical approval

This clinical investigation was reviewed by the Ethics Committee of the University of Naples Federico II.

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Cioffi, I., Landino, D., Donnarumma, V. et al. Frequency of daytime tooth clenching episodes in individuals affected by masticatory muscle pain and pain-free controls during standardized ability tasks. Clin Oral Invest 21, 1139–1148 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1870-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1870-8

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