Original　article

    A study of Influence of Occlusal Factors and the Central Nervous  System on Nocturnal Bruxism

                                 −A Study Using an Occlusal Splint−

        Tetsuo Sugawara, Masahiko Ikeda and Hiroshi Kato

Abstract：

 The following experimental was conducted to learn how, among peripheral factors that have been considered to cause bruxism, occlusal factors and central nervous system factors affect nocturnal bruxism.occlusal factors and central nervous system factors affect nocturnal bruxism.For the experimental subjects 85 outpatients at Ikeda Dental Clinic were selected.First ,during sleep , an occlusal splint was inserted on the upper jaw .Then resin of the facet that developed on the surface of the occlusal splint was examined with the naked eye , to see how much the resin had been scraped.The deepest part of the facet was measured using a light permeable microscope, and the strength of nocturnal bruxism was evaluated at the same time. A part that corresponds to the molar tooth the same occlusal splint was elevated by approximately 0.5mm, the size of one tooth. After creating a premature contact and giving more variety in occlusion, bruxism was evaluated and compared to that before premature cantact was made. The result showed that, out of 85 patients, 44.7% showed no changes, and 55.3%Showed changes. This showed that the cause of bruxism depended on the central nervous system, while the remaining 55.3% of cases were possibly linked to occlusal factors. From the above results, depending on the case, the cause for bruxism is believed to be linked to both occlusal factors and the central nervous system.