Scholarlink

Purpose <p>The heat-map method is a useful tool for spatially assessing pain distribution. This study aimed to determine pain distribution in patients with probable bruxism using heat maps generated from pain drawings and to examine the relationship between pain intensity, pain localization, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors.</p> Method <p>A total of 200 patients with probable bruxism (123 females, 77 males; age range: 18–70 years; mean age: 34.9 ± 12.6 years) were included. Probable bruxism was defined based on positive self-report and clinical evidence of non-functional dental wear/attrition. The study data were obtained from patients who attended our clinic between 2024 and 2025. Sociodemographic and behavioral data, including age, sex, systemic disease, education, occupation, marital status, sleep pattern, smoking, and alcohol use, were recorded. Templates depicting seven anatomical regions, including the intraoral region, right/left and anterior/posterior head–neck regions, and anterior/posterior upper extremities, were used. Patients colored the areas where they perceived pain. The frequency of marked boxes was calculated and used to generate heat maps. Pain intensity was evaluated using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p> Results <p>Pain was most frequently localized to the right (<i>n</i> = 700) and left (<i>n</i> = 610) head–neck regions, whereas the intraoral region showed the lowest frequency (<i>n</i> = 143). NRS scores were significantly higher in females (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and in patients with self-reported irregular sleep patterns (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). No significant associations were found between NRS scores and alcohol use, smoking, education, occupation, marital status, systemic disease, or age (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05).</p> Conclusions <p>In patients with probable bruxism, pain was predominantly localized to the head–neck region. Female sex and self-reported irregular sleep patterns were associated with higher perceived pain intensity.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Localization of pain in patients with probable bruxism: a cross-sectional pain-drawing and heat-map analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月10日

查看全文
  • Melek Tassoker,
  • Mediha Erturk

摘要

Purpose

The heat-map method is a useful tool for spatially assessing pain distribution. This study aimed to determine pain distribution in patients with probable bruxism using heat maps generated from pain drawings and to examine the relationship between pain intensity, pain localization, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors.

Method

A total of 200 patients with probable bruxism (123 females, 77 males; age range: 18–70 years; mean age: 34.9 ± 12.6 years) were included. Probable bruxism was defined based on positive self-report and clinical evidence of non-functional dental wear/attrition. The study data were obtained from patients who attended our clinic between 2024 and 2025. Sociodemographic and behavioral data, including age, sex, systemic disease, education, occupation, marital status, sleep pattern, smoking, and alcohol use, were recorded. Templates depicting seven anatomical regions, including the intraoral region, right/left and anterior/posterior head–neck regions, and anterior/posterior upper extremities, were used. Patients colored the areas where they perceived pain. The frequency of marked boxes was calculated and used to generate heat maps. Pain intensity was evaluated using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Pain was most frequently localized to the right (n = 700) and left (n = 610) head–neck regions, whereas the intraoral region showed the lowest frequency (n = 143). NRS scores were significantly higher in females (p = 0.002) and in patients with self-reported irregular sleep patterns (p < 0.001). No significant associations were found between NRS scores and alcohol use, smoking, education, occupation, marital status, systemic disease, or age (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

In patients with probable bruxism, pain was predominantly localized to the head–neck region. Female sex and self-reported irregular sleep patterns were associated with higher perceived pain intensity.