Psychological Features Associated With Awake Bruxism in Painful TMD : The Role of Anxiety

Key Points

• Awake bruxism is significantly more frequent in patients experiencing elevated anxiety levels, indicating a potential psychological link.
• A notable 50% of TMD patients with anxiety reported increased pain intensity and psychological distress associated with bruxism.
• The analysis highlights the relationship between psychological distress and both tooth clenching and pain in TMD patients suffering from anxiety.
• These findings emphasize the need for psychological assessments in TMD treatment plans, given the strong correlation with bruxism.

Abstract