Bruxism
Pronunciation: BRUK-siz-um
A parafunctional habit characterised by involuntary clenching, grinding, or gnashing of the teeth, occurring during sleep or wakefulness.
Full Definition
Bruxism is classified as either sleep bruxism (SB) or awake bruxism (AB) and is relevant across dentistry, oral medicine, and sleep medicine. In dental records, it is documented as a risk factor contributing to tooth wear, cracked teeth, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and prosthetic failure. Editors working on case notes, insurance reports, and research articles should note that bruxism is a diagnosis of exclusion and should not be edited to 'teeth grinding' in formal clinical documents, as the latter is colloquial. Variant spellings such as 'bruxismus' may appear in older European literature.
Usage
Usage note: Prefer 'bruxism' over 'teeth grinding' in clinical and formal documents. If the document distinguishes sleep from awake bruxism, verify abbreviations SB and AB are defined at first use.
In Context
- "The patient's history of nocturnal bruxism was noted as a contraindication for porcelain veneers in the treatment planning notes." — Treatment planning note
- "Sleep bruxism (SB) was listed in the medical history section of the new patient registration form." — New patient registration form