Objectives: Bruxism significantly affects oral health, with consequences such as tooth wear and restoration failures. Additionally, it is linked to various risk factors and co-occurring disorders. Unlike sleep bruxism, awake bruxism (AB) is more strongly associated with psychosocial factors. This review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of AB in the general population and specific subpopulations.

Methods: The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023398868). A literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until April 8, 2025 identified studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of reporting AB prevalence in adult populations. Risk of bias was assessed with Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool and a random-effects meta-analysis determined prevalence in various subpopulations.

Results: The search yielded 8,818 records, with 5,408 abstracts screened after duplicate removal. Of these, 4,473 were excluded. Full-text assessment led to the exclusion of 843 articles that did not meet inclusion criteria. A hand search identified 5 additional studies. Ultimately, 94 studies involving 49,163 individuals were included, with 66 studies (39,823 individuals) analyzed in the meta-analysis. In the general population, self-reported "possible" AB had a mean prevalence of 25.9% (95% CI 22.2-29.9), and clinically based "probable" AB 16.0% (95% CI 10.0-24.5). Prevalence was significantly higher in specific subpopulations, such as individuals with temporomandibular disorders (50.0%, 95% CI 41.1-58.9) and systemic conditions (40.1%, 95% CI 31.4-49.5). Risk of bias was mainly related to assessment of AB.

Conclusions: The variability between subpopulations highlights the importance of considering patient-specific factors and a targeted clinical approach in AB management.

Background: Psychosocial screening is a valuable part of the assessment of patients with orofacial pain, as psychosocial factors will affect prognosis and treatment outcomes. Paper-based questionnaires are predominately used to assess the degree of psychosocial comorbidity; however, digital alternatives for screening questionnaires may be more cost-effective and resource-saving if patients are receptive to using them.

Objective: To evaluate how patients perceive digital psychosocial screening in dentistry.

Method: Using a qualitative approach, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of adult patients with orofacial pain (n = 16) recruited from specialist dental clinics in Umeå and Gävle, Sweden. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using Qualitative Content Analysis. Before the interviews, patients first completed the paper-based questionnaires and then the digital version.

Results: The analysis of patients' experiences resulted in an overarching theme: Patients appreciate a holistic approach, thus valuing psychosocial screening, and they particularly favour screening in a digital format. From this theme, two categories emerged: Perceptions about health shape patients' expectations of dental care, and with deeper understanding of the value of psychosocial assessment, patients appreciate a holistic approach that includes psychosocial factors. Digital screening is perceived by patients as a reliable, meaningful and environmentally sustainable method.

Conclusions: In general, the patients appreciated a holistic approach in dentistry and understood the value of psychosocial screening as part of this. From the patients' perspective, digital psychosocial screening was both acceptable and beneficial. The findings support the introduction of digital psychosocial screening into daily dental practice.

While muscle overload is commonly implicated in musculoskeletal pain conditions, real-time assessment of associated behavioural and physiological features is challenging. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-reported awake bruxism using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and jaw muscle activity registered by surface electromyography (sEMG), and differences between individuals with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. Seventy participants (38 women, 32 men), of which 31% reported pain, completed 3-day EMA using a smartphone application combined with a sEMG device only for day 1. Overload, defined as muscle activity exceeding 20% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), was evaluated for duration and area under curve (AUC). A strong correlation was observed between EMA-reported bruxism and sEMG overload duration (ρ = 0.62, p < 0.001). AUC showed a correlation with EMA only in the TMD group. Participants with TMD pain exhibited shorter high-intensity bursts (60-79% MVC, p ≤ 0.005) but prolonged low-intensity muscle activity (20-39% MVC, p < 0.001). Bruxism behaviour and stress levels were higher in women and in individuals with pain. The results suggest that combining EMA and sEMG provides valid assessment of musculoskeletal overload, capturing both perceptual and physiological dimensions. Incorporating EMA in pain management can identify pain-related risk behaviours, thus supporting tailored patient-centred interventions.

Background: Care should be neutral and equal, but normative beliefs may impact the interaction between patients and healthcare professionals in pain management.

Objectives: To explore how patients with jaw and neck pain perceive pain management and the interaction with healthcare professionals in relation to intersectionality, with a specific focus on gender.

Methods: Recruitment was performed at a specialist dentistry clinic in Sweden. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18–70 years, reporting jaw and neck pain and understanding the Swedish language. Exclusion criteria were rheumatic disease, temporomandibular joint arthralgia or arthritis. Using purposive sampling, 16 patients (11 women) aged 19–56 were interviewed using individual semi‐structured interviews. The analysis was performed using thematic analysis.

Results: The analysis resulted in the theme: ‘Intersectional bias in healthcare – the inequity borne by the patients’, with five subthemes that entailed different types of bias related to the participants' personal characteristics and their interaction with healthcare professionals. Health‐related stigmata was one subtheme described among participants, resulting in labelling and burden in the encounter. Other subthemes also described bias in relation to biological differences among pain patients and patients not being taken seriously due to, for example, female gender and younger age. Two subthemes also described bias in relation to the healthcare professionals' gender and age.

Conclusion: Normative beliefs have a negative impact on the interaction between patients and healthcare professionals in pain management. Since patient–provider interaction should be neutral and equal, intersectional bias should be acknowledged to prevent health and care inequalities.

'Temporomandibular disorders' is an umbrella term for disorders of the temporomandibular joints, the masticatory muscles, and the adjacent anatomical structures. On behalf of the International Network for Orofacial Pain and Related Disorders Methodology, this article gives an overview of key points for good clinical practice in the field of temporomandibular disorders. During an annual conference in March 2024, members of the aforementioned network drew up a list of 10 core principles. These core principles include knowledge about the causes, diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders. They summarize the current standard of care for the treatment of such conditions and are in keeping with the need to help increase the expertise of dentists working in general practice and to prevent incorrect treatment. The core principles can be regarded as a starting point for other national and international organisations to use to develop guidelines and recommendations for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Concurrent pain in the jaw and neck is common; however, little is known about how it develops. Previous studies have focused mainly on biological factors with limited focus on psychosocial factors and patients' perspectives. To enhance understanding of concurrent jaw and neck pain, knowledge is needed about patients' perspectives on the development of symptoms and their management within health care that also includes dentistry.

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' perspectives on the development of concurrent jaw and neck pain in relation to navigating the health care system.

METHODS: Sixteen individuals (11 women and 5 men, aged 19 to 56 y) with concurrent jaw and neck pain were recruited using purposive sampling. Participants were patients referred to an orofacial pain specialist in Sweden. Individual semi-structured interviews were used and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS: Data analysis resulted in the theme "Seeking understanding, confirmation, and simplified navigation in the health care system." The main theme consisted of 3 subthemes: (1) understanding and interpreting the body and emotions holistically, (2) seeking affirmation and legitimacy from health care, and (3) wishing for clear and easily navigable health care pathways. Patients expressed thoughts regarding their own sensemaking in respect to causes for their pain. Moreover, they requested confirmation from health care along with simplified health care navigation and a holistic approach regarding pain management.

CONCLUSIONS: A mismatch exists between the patient's own sensemaking regarding the cause of their jaw and neck pain and the care they receive from their health care provider. Having pain from multiple sites that is managed in different medical systems makes it difficult to navigate within health care. A clear care pathway could reduce the risk of pain chronicity, and an increased collaboration between dentistry and medical care would be desirable.

Knowledge Transfer Statement: Concurrent jaw and neck pain is common but often managed separately in dentistry and health care. This can result in a mismatch between a patient's understanding regarding concurrent jaw and neck pain and directions from their health care provider. A holistic approach and increased collaboration between dentistry and health care are needed to support patients navigating health care providers and reduce the risk of pain chronification.

Occlusal tactile acuity (OTA) and bite force are essential components of the sensorimotor control of oral behaviors. While these variables have been studied independently, it has not yet been revealed whethercompressive force impacts the occlusal perception mediated by the mechanoreceptive afferents in the periodontal ligament. The present study examined the effect of repetition and maximum bite force on OTA by testingnine aluminum foils of different thicknesses together with a sham test with no foil, three times each, in randomized order in 36 healthy individuals. In addition, the 40 μm foil was tested three more times at the start ofeach session to evaluate possible short-term effects. This test session was repeated with and without an interspersed maximum bite force task in between. The results demonstrated that repeated measurements increasedOTA significantly (p = 0.033); a change mainly driven by the 40 μm thickness, whereas maximum bite force testsdid not affect OTA (p = 0.097). Collectively, the results suggest that the enhanced OTA may be attributed torepetition-mediated learning and neuroplasticity within the pathways related to OTA. Furthermore, thecompressive bite force may have induced a short-term change that lasted seconds and was not detected by thesubsequent OTA measurements or may have altogether inhibited the facilitatory effect of repeated OTA. Thisunderscores the potential for future research to explore the implications of compressive force and pain on OTA inpatient populations, which could provide valuable insights into the adaptive mechanisms of the sensorimotorsystem in pathological conditions.

Background: The multifactorial nature of chronic pain should be reflected in pain assessment. The aim of this observational study comparing samples from three generations assessed at different times was to present differences in pain, stress and mental well‐being.

Methods: Pain sites, widespread pain, stress (Perceived Stress Scale‐4) and mental well‐being (30‐item General Health Questionnaire) were described across generations from the Malmö neck and shoulder study (parents, Generation 1, n  = 12,607), Malmö offspring study, and Malmö Offspring pain study (children and grandchildren, Generation 2, n  = 1572; Generation 3, n  = 936).

Results: Pain prevalence remained comparable across generations. In all generations, women reported more pain sites compared to men, mean difference 1.0 (95% CI 0.9–1.1) in Generation 1, mean difference 1.3 (95% CI 1.0–1.6) in Generation 2, and mean difference 0.9 (95% CI 0.5–1.3) in Generation 3. The frequency of widespread pain for women and men was 28% and 16% in Generation 1, 27% and 12% in Generation 2, and 22% and 15% in Generation 3, respectively. Perceived stress levels were consistently higher in Generation 2 and 3 compared to Generation 1 for both women and men. Among women, mental well‐being remained stable between Generation 1 and 2 but declined significantly in Generation 3 (mean difference 3.2, 95% CI 2.4–4.3).

Conclusions: The results suggest significant gender disparities, with women consistently reporting more pain sites, higher stress levels, and reduced mental well‐being compared to men. Furthermore, the findings suggest that generational differences in coping—or other factors—may mitigate the impact of psychosocial distress on pain prevalence, warranting further research.

Significance: This study highlights the comparability of pain prevalence across generations despite increasing stress and declining mental well‐being, particularly in women. These findings emphasise the importance of integrating mental health support and gender‐specific coping strategies into pain management, offering insights into biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying the interactions between pain and perceived stress.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify baseline factors that predict Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with TMD 8 years later.

Materials and Methods: 401 participants (333 women, mean age 45.8 years) from a multicenter cohort were examined using the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) and questionnaires. The main outcome was the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), a HRQoL measure that provides physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) summaries. Baseline predictors included age, gender, self-reported health, Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS), pain intensity, pain frequency, and pain duration. Regression analysis with stepwise modeling identified predictive factors.

Results: 54.3% had painful TMD, 15.7% had nonpainful TMD, and 27.7% were healthy controls. For the painful TMD group, the regression model was significant (R² = .25, F = 4.3, P < .01), with age and favorable general health predicting PCS scores. In the nonpainful TMD group, the model was significant (R² = .58, F = 3.8, P < .01), with JFLS and favorable general health (predicting PCS scores. The MCS model was significant in healthy controls (R2 = .22, F = 1.8, P = .05), with JFLS as only predictor.

Conclusion: Predictors of mental HRQoL: JFLS in healthy controls, but no predictors were found in TMD groups. Predictors of physical HRQoL: General health in both TMD groups, JFLS in the nonpainful TMD group, and age in the painful TMD group.