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The effect of compulsory military service on the prevalence of masticatory parafunctions in the study subjects

Bogdan Kamiński, Łukasz Pawlak, Wojciech Split

Med Sci Tech 2009; 50(1): RA55-58

ID: 881653


Introduction: Masticatory parafunctions are involuntary habits or fixations in response to psychosocial stress Soldiers serving compulsory military service are particularly prone to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of parafunctional habits in the study subjects. Material and methods: The 8.5-month study included 104 soldiers, aged 19 to 24 years, serving compulsory military service. The prevalence, type of parafunctions, and pathological changes induced by parafunctions were investigated at the beginning and before the conclusion of the military service on the basis of a clinical examination. Within the same time period, the emotional state of the study soldiers was evaluated using the PSS-10 psychological perceived stress scale by Cohen, adapted to the Polish conditions by Juczyński. Results: The number of soldiers with masticatory parafunctions who were finishing their military service was shown to increase by 9% as compared to the newly-recruited subjects (from 50% to 59%), whereas the incidence of non-occlusal parafunctions rose from 6.72% to 14.41%. Coincidences of parafunctions were found in 80% of soldiers; bruxism occurred as an isolated form. Among soldiers with bruxism, the number of subjects with persistent bruxism was significantly higher (increase from 42 to 61%). The average perceived stress index increased from 47.2%, SD 10.39, to 52.5%, SD 10.11. Conclusions: Compulsory military service affects the prevalence of parafunctions and reduces stress resistance in persons serving compulsory military service. (Clin Exp Med Lett 2009; 50(1)55-58)

Keywords: bruxism, parafunctional habits, soldiers, psychosocial stress

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