A new perspective for radiologic findings of bruxism on dental panoramic radiography.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate whether there is a relationship between the appositional classification in the mandible angle region and the mandibular cortical index (MCI) seen in bruxist individuals and to differentiate between the bruxist group without mandibular apposition and the non-bruxist group on panoramic radiographs.

METHODS

The mandible angle region of 209 individuals, 170 bruxists and 39 non-bruxists, were included in the study. Each mandible angle apposition was classified as G0 (No directional change, no bone apposition)-G1 (Directional change on the basal cortex. No bone apposition)-G2 (Directional change plus generalized bone apposition with inhomogeneous surface)-G3 (Directional change plus localized bone apposition at one or more sites). The MCI of each individual was recorded according to their classified apposition.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found in the relationship between MCI and apposition severity in mandible angle grades in bruxist individuals (p = 0.063). A statistically significant difference was found between MCI and the bruxist G0/non-bruxist G0 groups (p < 0.001). While the MCI-C1 was higher in non-bruxist G0 individuals, the MCI-C2 was higher in bruxist G0 individuals. A statistically significant correlation was found between gender and severity of grades (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although it is known that appositional changes are seen in the mandible angle region in bruxism, MCI can be used as a valuable radiologic diagnostic criterion during the evaluation of bruxist and healthy individuals in the G0 grade who have not yet radiologically demonstrated bone apposition in the mandible angle.