Investigation of Respiratory Function in Bruxism

Investigation of Respiratory Function, Biomechanical Properties of Neck and Jaw Muscles and Pain Sensitivity in Individuals With Bruxism

The aim of the study was to evaluate the respiratory functions, sleep quality and headache severity of individuals with bruxism and to compare them with the control group without bruxism.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Sleep; Bruxism
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Pulmonary function test; Diagnostic test: Fonseca Anamnestic Index; Other: Jenkins Sleep Scale; Other: Berlin Questionnaire; Other: Headache Impact Test-6

Detailed Description

Bruxism is defined as a repetitive jaw muscle activity characterized by teeth grinding or clenching accompanied by tooth wear and jaw muscle discomfort in the absence of a medical condition. Bruxism can occur during the day or during sleep and is defined as awake bruxism or sleep bruxism, respectively. According to the diagnostic criteria of the American Sleep Disorders Association (AASM), the New Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3), sleep bruxism requires the presence of a regular or frequent teeth grinding sound during sleep, accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms: signs of tooth wear, morning jaw fatigue or pain, and/or temporal headache and/or jaw locking. The etiology of bruxism is not fully understood but is influenced by psychosocial factors such as personality traits and stress. Sleep bruxism has been defined as a sleep-related movement disorder and has been reported to be associated with other sleep disorders. One sleep disorder reported to accompany bruxism is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by upper airway obstruction that disrupts normal sleep patterns and ventilation despite respiratory efforts. OSAS is considered a risk factor for triggering bruxism. It has been suggested that rhythmic masticatory muscle activity during sleep bruxism plays a role in lubricating the upper gastrointestinal tract and increasing airway patency. This is assumed to facilitate better breathing. The possible relationship between sleep bruxism and sleep apnea suggests that the respiratory functions of individuals with bruxism may differ from those of individuals without bruxism. This difference is anticipated to be particularly pronounced in the supine sleep position. A review of the literature revealed no studies evaluating the respiratory functions of individuals with sleep bruxism. The study will also investigate sleep quality and headache severity in individuals with bruxism.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Gölbaşı
    • Ankara, Gölbaşı, Turkey, 06830
      • Atılım University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Male and female individuals between the ages of 18-45

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between 18-45 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Receiving orthodontic or splint treatment

  • Having more than two missing teeth
  • Having undergone jaw, thoracic, or abdominal surgery within the last 6 months
  • Having a history of cervical and/or thoracic trauma
  • Having a neurological, systemic, and/or cardiopulmonary disease
  • Using sleeping pills
  • Having a diagnosis of psychiatric illness

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Bruxism; Individuals diagnosed with bruxism	Diagnostic test: Pulmonary function test; Participants' respiratory functions will be assessed in different positions with the Cosmed Pony Fx Digital Spirometer (11). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) will be determined during the pulmonary function test.; Diagnostic test: Fonseca Anamnestic Index; The questionnaire consists of 10 questions covering headaches, neck pain, temporomandibular joint pain, pain during chewing, parafunctional habits, malocclusion, and stress, and is scored as 10 (yes), 5 (sometimes), and 0 (no). The total score ranges from 0 to 100. A higher total score indicates an increased risk of temporomandibular joint problems.; Other: Jenkins Sleep Scale; The Jennkis Sleep Scale consists of four questions that assess sleep problems over a 4-week period. Each question is scored from 0 to 5. The total score ranges from 0 to 20 and indicates increasing sleep disturbance.; Other: Berlin Questionnaire; Berlin Questionnaire: The Berlin Questionnaire is a three-part assessment tool that assesses individuals' predisposition to sleep apnea. The first part contains five questions investigating snoring, the second part contains four questions investigating daytime sleepiness, and the third part contains two questions investigating hypertension and obesity. Each section is evaluated independently. Individuals who score 2 or higher in the first and second sections, and those who score 1 in the third section, are considered predisposed to sleep apnea. If two or more categories are positive, the participant is considered high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. If the participant scores two or more in the first and second categories, they are considered high risk. If blood pressure is high or BMI is above 30 kg/m2, the participant is considered high risk.; Other: Headache Impact Test-6; Headache Impact Test-6: The Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) is administered to identify activities individuals are unable to perform due to headaches and to determine the extent to which headaches impact daily life. This six-question questionnaire includes columns with increasing scores, from "never" to "always." Participants are asked to mark the box closest to their response. A high total score indicates that headaches negatively impact daily life.
Control; healthy individuals	Diagnostic test: Pulmonary function test; Participants' respiratory functions will be assessed in different positions with the Cosmed Pony Fx Digital Spirometer (11). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) will be determined during the pulmonary function test.; Diagnostic test: Fonseca Anamnestic Index; The questionnaire consists of 10 questions covering headaches, neck pain, temporomandibular joint pain, pain during chewing, parafunctional habits, malocclusion, and stress, and is scored as 10 (yes), 5 (sometimes), and 0 (no). The total score ranges from 0 to 100. A higher total score indicates an increased risk of temporomandibular joint problems.; Other: Jenkins Sleep Scale; The Jennkis Sleep Scale consists of four questions that assess sleep problems over a 4-week period. Each question is scored from 0 to 5. The total score ranges from 0 to 20 and indicates increasing sleep disturbance.; Other: Berlin Questionnaire; Berlin Questionnaire: The Berlin Questionnaire is a three-part assessment tool that assesses individuals' predisposition to sleep apnea. The first part contains five questions investigating snoring, the second part contains four questions investigating daytime sleepiness, and the third part contains two questions investigating hypertension and obesity. Each section is evaluated independently. Individuals who score 2 or higher in the first and second sections, and those who score 1 in the third section, are considered predisposed to sleep apnea. If two or more categories are positive, the participant is considered high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. If the participant scores two or more in the first and second categories, they are considered high risk. If blood pressure is high or BMI is above 30 kg/m2, the participant is considered high risk.; Other: Headache Impact Test-6; Headache Impact Test-6: The Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) is administered to identify activities individuals are unable to perform due to headaches and to determine the extent to which headaches impact daily life. This six-question questionnaire includes columns with increasing scores, from "never" to "always." Participants are asked to mark the box closest to their response. A high total score indicates that headaches negatively impact daily life.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Forced vital capacity (FVC)	Participant's forced vital capacity (FVC) will be assessed in different positions with the Cosmed Pony Fx Digital Spirometer. Forced vital capacity (FVC) is a subparameter of pulmonary function tests.	From enrollment to the end of the assessment period at 2 hours
Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)	Participants' forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) will be assessed in different positions with the Cosmed Pony Fx Digital Spirometer. Forced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) is a subparameter of pulmonary function tests.	From enrollment to the end of the assessment period at 2 hours
Peak expiratory flow rate (PEF)	Peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) will be assessed in different positions with the Cosmed Pony Fx Digital Spirometer. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) a subparameter of pulmonary function tests.	From enrollment to the end of the assessment period at 2 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Atılım University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Seval Yılmaz, PhD., Atılım University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 12, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): August 20, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 20, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: sleep; headache; respiratory function; bruxism
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Stomatognathic Diseases; Tooth Diseases; Bruxism
• Other Study ID Numbers: 6040102284-Bruxism

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: There are currently no plans to share the data and it is collected for internal use only

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No