Updated November 30, 1998  | Bruxism Links |  What is Sleep
Bruxism?  Sleep Bruxism is a sterotyped movement disorder
characterized by grinding or clenching of the teeth during
sleep.  The disorder has also been identified as nocturnal
bruxism, nocturnal tooth-grinding and nocturnal tooth-clenching.
What are the Symptoms?  The symptoms of Sleep Bruxism are tooth-
grinding or tooth-clenching during sleep that may cause:  How
serious is the disorder?  Some people have episodes that occur
less than nightly with no evidence of dental injury or
impairment of psychosocial functioning. And others experience
nightly episodes with evidence of mild impairment of
psychosocial functioning. Yet others have nightly episodes with
evidence of dental injury, tempomandibular (jaw) disorders,
other physical injury or moderate or severe impairment of
psychosocial functioning.  When someone with suspected sleep
bruxism has a polysomnographic test there is evidence of jaw
muscle activity during the sleep period and the absence of