Distress Level

Increased distress levels and impaired sleep quality are known to exacerbate bruxism by enhancing masticatory muscle activity, leading to excessive and prolonged occlusal forces. These abnormal forces may result in occlusal trauma, which can compromise the adaptive capacity of the periodontal tissues by increasing tooth mobility, widening the periodontal ligament space, and accelerating alveolar bone loss, particularly in the presence of existing periodontal inflammation. Although occlusal trauma alone may not initiate periodontal disease, it can act as an important modifying factor in disease progression. Despite the recognized individual associations of distress, sleep quality, bruxism, and periodontal health, limited evidence exists regarding their combined impact on periodontal status among bruxers. Therefore, evaluating the influence of distress level, sleep quality, and occlusal trauma on periodontal status is essential to better understand disease progression and to facilitate comprehensive, multidisciplinary management strategies for individuals with bruxism.