Depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and bruxism

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders that affects 1 in 6 people in the UK at some point in their life. The cause or the causes of depression is not set in stone, it is multifactorial, and is known to be triggered by certain occasions or events in life, such as bereavement, illness etc.1 One of the most recent biological explanations of the causes of depression is thought to be related to a decrease in the secretion of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.2

For treatment of depression, there are three classes of antidepressants:

Currently, the most commonly prescribed antidepressants are SSRIs. They are applauded for their fewer side-effects. However, there are numerous case reports available in the literature, some dating back to 20 years ago, that link increased bruxism with SSRIs, making it relevant to dentistry. Currently, to the best of my knowledge, there is no scientific evidence to prove or disprove this.