Bruxism in children with brain damage

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Abstract
Ninety-one children with brain damage were examined with regard to the degree of dental wear in relation to the degree and symptom of brain damage. Abnormal wear was found in a statistically established greater frequency in the group of children most severely mentally retarded, while it was not found in children of normal intelligence. Of the children with most severe mental retardation, 8 were at a 6-month level of development and all of these had abnormal wear. The others had reached the one-year-old stage, at which it is likely that normal protective reflexes or the ability to sense pain in the parodontium begin to develop. Of 7 children with severe cerebral palsy, 4 showed abnormal wear and also belonged to the most severely mentally retarded group. The investigation shows that abnormal dental wear is more closely related to a low level of mental development than to the degree of severity of cerebral palsy. The absence of proprioception in the parodontium is discussed as a possible cause of bruxism.

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