Effect of Social and Psychological Factors on Mandibular Parafunctions

Objectives:Although etiology of mandibular parafunction is not known entirely, emotional stress is thought to be an effective factor. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of social and psychological factors on mandibular parafunctions. Methods:22 patients with mandibular parafunction and 13 healthy volunteers were asked questions about headache (tension headache, migraine), stomach pain (gastritis, gastric ulcer and undiagnosed pain), life conditions, psychologic treatment demand in the past or now, weakness and tiredness in the morning and an event that has an effect on their life. Ki-square test was performed on data. Results:There is no significant difference between two groups about headache, life conditions, psychologic treatment demand and an effective event (P > 0.001). But about weakness and tiredness in the morning and stomach pain, there is significant difference between two groups (P = 0.001). Conclusions: No difference between in groups about psychologic treatment demand and effective event can be interpreted in two different ways. Firstly, emotional stress may have no potential effect on mandibular parafunction. In second way, people with parafunction may run away or pass over their problems but reflect them as parafunctions unconsciously. And also, although there is no difference between two groups about headache, migraine was more in parafunction group. But we studied on a small group. A greater population is necessary for general comments. As a conclusion, this study shows that people with mandibular parafunction may tended to have gastric diseases and mandibular parafunction can be a way for people to show their emotional stress.