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The identification of stress indicators in archaeological human remains is confounded not only by how paleopathologists define “stress”, but also by our understanding of how stress impacts the body. With the interpretation of commonly used osteological stress indicators being cautioned, if not challenged, the door is open for bioarchaeologists to explore new ways of identifying stress in past populations. One potentially identifiable stress response is bruxism. A behavior disorder characterized by the unconscious grinding and/or clenching of teeth, bruxism is often associated with acute and chronic psychosocial stress. This disorder is quite common; international clinical literature shows the disorder affecting up to 31% of adults and 20% of children. Though the frequency and severity of bruxism varies by individual, the long-term pathological impact of bruxing can be severe. Bruxism is associated with excessive dental attrition, abfraction, fracture, hypercementosis, occlusal pits, myofascial pain, hypertrophy of masticatory muscles, and possibly with mandibular and maxillary tori and temporomandibular disorder (TMD). However, despite its prevalence, associated pathologies, and association with stress, bruxism is rarely discussed in the osteological “stress” literature. This lack of attention is likely due to the challenges inherent in differential diagnosis. Evidence of bruxism may be obscured, exacerbated, and/or confounded by masticatory wear, malocclusion, tooth-loss, and general aging. Furthermore, the idiosyncratic nature of the disorder and the variability in the biomechanical forces associated with it (clenching vs. grinding) suggest that the dental effects will present differently within and between individuals, which may further complicate diagnosis. Despite these obstacles, as a clinically-correlated stress response, bruxism is a potentially useful new avenue for conceptualizing and identifying stress in past populations. |
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