Elifnaz Ozen Sutuven

Multifactorial Nature of Bruxism: From Diagnosis to Management

Bruxism is a complex, multifactorial condition characterized by repetitive jaw-muscle activity, often resulting in tooth wear, temporomandibular joint disorders, and orofacial pain. Despite its common occurrence in both children and adults, the etiology of bruxism remains elusive, involving a dynamic interplay of biological, psychological, and behavioral factors. Recent advances have expanded our understanding of the condition beyond mere occlusal discrepancies, highlighting the significant roles of sleep physiology, stress, genetic predisposition, and neuromodulatory mechanisms.
This lecture will explore the multifactorial nature of bruxism, emphasizing the current perspectives on its diagnosis, pathophysiology, and clinical management. Diagnostic strategies—from self-reported symptoms and clinical signs to instrumental and polysomnographic assessments—will be discussed in the context of both sleep and awake bruxism. Furthermore, evidence-based management approaches, including behavioral interventions, occlusal appliances, pharmacologic therapies, and emerging neuromodulation techniques, will be critically reviewed.
It is aimed to provide clinicians and researchers with an integrative understanding of bruxism as a biopsychosocial phenomenon, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to its effective assessment and individualized treatment.

Assistant Professor Elifnaz OZEN SUTUVEN, DDS, PhD.

Dr. Elifnaz Özen Sütüven was born in 1993 in Balıkesir, Turkey. She graduated from high school as the valedictorian. She studied Dentistry at Yeditepe University, Istanbul, on a full scholarship awarded by the Council of Higher Education and graduated as the valedictorian. In the same year, she began her PhD studies in Prosthodontics at Yeditepe University.
Throughout her doctoral studies, she focused not only on fixed and removable prosthetic treatments, but also on bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea.
After completing her PhD, Dr. Özen Sütüven joined Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Prosthodontics as a faculty member. She continues to conduct research on dental materials and bruxism, teaches both theoretical and clinical courses, and mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Dr. Özen Sütüven is the coordinator of Yeditepe University Dental Students’ Association (YUDSA) and an active member of the Turkish Dental Association (TDB), the Istanbul Chamber of Dentists (İDO), and the Osseointegration Association (OSSEDER).

e-mail: elifnaz.ozen@yeditepe.edu.tr