Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases could experience mouth and teeth disorders and alterations in psychological mood. Vice versa, the psychological status may influence the presence of oral diseases. AIM: To evaluate in inflammatory bowel disease patients the prevalence of sleep bruxism and its correlation with the presence of oral diseases, quality of sleep, and psychological disturbances. METHODS: Patients were consecutively recruited in our clinic and examined for temporomandibular disorders, dental enamel disorders, sleep bruxism, and recurrent aphthous stomatitis by two dentists. Patients also underwent Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Beck Depression Inventory Scale questionnaires. RESULTS: 47 patients and 46 controls were included. Sleep bruxism and enamel wear disorders were more frequent in Crohn's disease patients when compared with ulcerative colitis patients and controls (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, resp.). Among groups, no differences were noted for enamel hypoplasia, temporomandibular disorders, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, depression, and quality of sleep. We found a positive correlation between bruxism and temporomandibular disorders (Spearman 0.6, p < 0.001) and between bruxism and pathological sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index > 5) (Spearman 0.3, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Bruxism and enamel wear disorders should be routinely searched in Crohn's disease patients. Moreover, the attention of healthcare givers to sleep disturbances should be addressed to all inflammatory bowel disease patients.