Association between Bruxism and Gingival Recession, Abfraction and Premature Contacts

Objective: To determine the relationship between bruxism behavior, abfraction, gingival recession and premature contacts. Methods: Previous to the investigation work, the measuring instrument was validated, as were the calibration of the subjects and the pilot test. The sample consisted of 901 teeth in 37 subjects (8 men and 29 women) with an average age of 36.5 (DS 9.90)in a range from 16 to 50 years. The sample was obtained from patients that consulted in the Dental Clinics of the University of Guadalajara and in private practice. The following variables were recorded in the clinical history: bruxism behavior, gingival recession, abfraction and premature contacts. The patients included in the study did not present clinical signs of periodontal disease, high insertion of frenum, caries or restoration at cervical level, history of traumatic brushing or malocclusion; they had not received orthodontic or periodontal treatment or occlusal adjustment; and the plaque index (Green and Bermillion)was under 3 for all of them.Results: Of the studied sample 26 subjects were bruxers and 11 not bruxers. In the bruxers group abfraction was found in 13.6% of the teeth and in the non-bruxers group 10.2%, the difference was not significant. 38% of the teeth in the bruxers patients presented premature contacts, so did 38.2% in the non-bruxers, the difference was not significant. 46.6% of the teeth in the bruxers patients presented gingival recession, for the non-bruxers it was 37.1%, this difference was statistically significant (p<0.01)Conclusions: Under the conditions of this study, an association between bruxism behavior and gingival recession was found.