Authors : Dr. Dishantkumar Sonpal; Dr. Khalid Mohammed Agwani; Dr. Kunal Tejnani; Dr. Shubham Pachwaria; Dr. Malaika Dedhia

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/bdzzsn3d

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec150

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Abstract : Bruxism is increasingly understood as a centrally regulated behavior rather than a consequence of occlusal discrepancies. Current evidence distinguishes Sleep Bruxism and Awake Bruxism as separate entities influenced by neurochemical mechanisms, sleep-related arousal patterns, and psychosocial factors. Sleep Bruxism is strongly associated with micro-arousals and autonomic activation and may act as a compensatory response in individuals experiencing airway obstruction, particularly those with obstructive sleep apnea. Awake Bruxism, conversely, is more closely linked to emotional tension, stress, and cognitive focus. Epidemiological findings vary widely across populations due to differing diagnostic standards, while pediatric bruxism often reflects developmental and airway-related influences and tends to diminish with age. Neurochemical and genetic research highlights the roles of dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways and demonstrates familial clustering. Despite advances in understanding, management remains primarily protective, as occlusal splints can safeguard oral structures but do not suppress the underlying central neural activity. Adjunctive strategies such as botulinum toxin, pharmacologic agents, behavioral interventions, and multidisciplinary care are beneficial in selected cases, especially when bruxism is medication-induced or clinically severe. Diagnostic accuracy continues to rely on the graded system of possible, probable, and definite bruxism, with polysomnography reserved for complex presentations. In conclusion, bruxism represents a multifactorial behavioral phenomenon that requires a comprehensive, individualized approach. Effective management integrates psychological, respiratory, pharmacologic, and behavioral considerations to address both its manifestations and the underlying drivers that contribute to its persistence.

Keywords : Bruxism, Sleep Wake Disorders, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Occlusal Splints, Botulinum Toxins.

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