STANDARDIZED TOOL FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BRUXISM (STAB)

This area of the website aims to present and describe the Standardized Tool for the Assessment of Bruxism (STAB), an instrument that was developed to provide a multidimensional evaluation of bruxism status, comorbid conditions, etiology, and consequences. The tool consists of two axes, specifically dedicated to the evaluation of bruxism status and consequences (Axis A) and of bruxism risk and etiological factors and comorbid conditions (Axis B). The tool includes 14 domains, accounting for a total of 66 items.

            Axis A includes the self-reported information on bruxism status and possible consequences (Subject-Based Assessment) together with the Clinically-BasedAssessment (CBA) (examiner report) and Instrumentally-Based Assessment (IBA) (technology report). The SBA includes domains on Sleep Bruxism (A1), Awake Bruxism (A2), and Patient’s Complaints (A3), with information based on patients’ self-report.The Clinically Based Assessment (CBA) includes domains on Joints and Muscles (A4), Intra- and Extra-Oral Tissues (A5), and Teeth and Restorations (A6), based on information collected by an examiner.

The Instrumentally Based Assessment (IBA) includes domains on Sleep Bruxism (A7), Awake Bruxism (A8), and the use of Additional Instruments (A9), based on the information gathered with the use of technological devices.

Axis B includes the self-reported information (subject-based report) on factors and conditions that may have an etiological or comorbid association with bruxism. It includes domains on Psychosocial Assessment (B1), Concurrent Sleep-related Conditions Assessment (B2), Concurrent Non-Sleep Conditions Assessment (B3), Prescribed Medications and Use of Substances Assessment (B4), and Additional Factors Assessment (B5).

As a rule, whenever possible, existing instruments, either in full or partial (i.e., specific subscales), are included.A user guide for scoring the different items is also provided to ease administration. The instrument is now ready for on-field testing and further refinement. It can be anticipated that it will help collecting data on bruxism in such a comprehensive way to have an impact on several clinical and research fields.

In this area of the website, the literature on the STAB as well as the full instrument can be downloaded.