Background and Rationale Bruxism is a repetitive jaw-muscle activity involving clenching or grinding of the teeth. Although its pathophysiology remains unclear, it is hypothesized that bruxism may contribute to biomechanical alterations in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) is a non-invasive method capable of detecting vibrational patterns associated with TMJ function. This study protocol aims to assess the potential association between bruxism and TMJ vibrational characteristics in adults. Objectives The primary objective is to determine whether there is a difference in TMJ vibrational parameters between individuals with clinically diagnosed bruxism and individuals without signs or symptoms of bruxism. The secondary objective is to explore the relationship between bruxism severity and specific vibrational parameters measured by JVA. Study Design This is a retrospective observational study of patient records collected between January 2020 and May 2025 at the Istanbul Atlas University TMD Clinic. Study Population * Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18-45 years * Documented bruxism evaluation * Complete Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) recordings * Exclusion Criteria: * History of orthodontic treatment within the past year * TMJ surgery or major facial trauma * Neurological or systemic inflammatory conditions * Pregnancy at time of evaluation * Use of medications affecting neuromuscular activity Sample Size Approximately 195 patient records meeting eligibility criteria will be analyzed. The bruxism group is expected to include \~175 participants, and the control group \~20 participants. Methodology Clinical data include patient-reported bruxism history, maximum mouth opening measurements, and TMJ clinical assessments. JVA recordings will be used to obtain vibrational parameters such as peak frequency, median frequency, amplitude, and total vibrational energy. Standardized protocols for JVA will be applied to all included patients. Statistical Analysis Data normality will be assessed. For normally distributed variables, independent t-tests will be used to compare groups; for non-normally distributed variables, Mann-Whitney U tests will be applied. Correlation between bruxism severity and vibrational parameters will be evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation. Multiple linear regression may be used to analyze the predictive value of bruxism indicators. Ethics The study protocol has been approved by the Istanbul Atlas University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: E-22686390-050.99-66516). Informed consent for use of anonymized data was obtained at the time of clinical examination.
Age range
18 Years – 45 Years
Sex
ALL
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Peak frequency of TMJ sounds
Timeframe: Baseline (single assessment at initial visit)