Do family functioning and mothers’ and children’s stress increase the odds of probable sleep bruxism among schoolchildren? A case control study

Prevalence of Possible Sleep Bruxism and Its Association with Social and Orofacial Factors in Preschool Population

The prevalence of bruxism in the preschool population varies according to different investigations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep bruxism and its relationship with social and orofacial factors in children aged 3 to 5 years. Three hundred forty-three preschool children were divided into two groups, one with nocturnal bruxism, as reported by parents, and another without this disorder. Questionnaires were distributed to the parents to determine the children's family social status and parafunctional habits at the time of the study. The clinical inspection confirmed the presence of certain parafunctional habits and the children's occlusal characteristics. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency chi-square tests to identify the influence of qualitative variables. Of the total sample, 28.9% of preschoolers presented sleep bruxism. The highest prevalence was observed in boys (61.6%) at the age of 5 years (41.4%). Characteristics associated with this pathology were lip incompetence, open bite, crossbite, and overbite, with p < 0.05. Sleep bruxism in preschool children has a higher prevalence in boys and is more frequently expressed from 5 years of age. Open bite, overbite, and crossbite should be considered factors associated with parafunction.

Sleep bruxism in children, from evidence to the clinic. A systematic review

Objectives

The present paper aims to systematically review the literature published from 2015 to 2023 on bruxism in children with the aim to compilate the best available evidence.

Materials and Methods

A systematic search in the National Library of Medicine's PubMed, Medline (EBSCO), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify all studies on humans assessing genetic, biopsychosocial, and sleep factors assessed with any different approach for sleep bruxism (SB) in children and its interventions. The selected articles were assessed independently by the two authors according to a structured reading of the article's format (PICO). The quality of the articles was evaluated using Quality Assessments Tool for Experimental Bruxism Studies (Qu-ATEBS) and the JBI critical appraisal tools.

Results

A total of 16 articles were included for discussion in the review and grouped into questionnaire/parental-report (n = 7), SB assessment through parental report of SB and clinical examination (n = 4), and instrumental assessment (n = 5) studies. The total quality scores evaluated with STROBE and Qu-ATEBS were high for all included papers. However, in general, there was no control of bias strategies and there was no control group in the intervention studies.

Conclusions

Investigations based on self-report, clinical, and instrumental bruxism assessment showed a positive association with genetics, quality of life aspects (school and emotional functions and overuse of screen-time), mother anxiety and family conformation, diet, alteration in sleep behaviors and architecture, and sleep breathing disorders. Additionally, the literature presents options to increase airway patency and, thus, reduce the occurrence of SB. Tooth wear was not found to be a major sign of SB in children. However, methods of SB assessment are heterogeneous and hamper a reliable comparison of the results.

Probable bruxism effects on masseter muscle thickness in children: ultrasonographic evaluation

OBJECTIVE

To compare the masseter muscle thickness (MMT) of patients with probable sleep/awake bruxism and controls without bruxism in mixed dentition as measured with ultrasonography (USG), and to calculate the correlation of MMT with body mass index (BMI).

STUDY DESIGN

The diagnosis of probable bruxism was established based on the parents' reports of the children's behavior, habits, and discomfort, and the presence of clinical signs and symptoms such as attrition-type wear on the teeth and the presence of discomfort, fatigue, and/or pain in the jaw muscles on palpation during clinical examination. The bruxist study group and the control group each included 28 children. MMT was measured separately in relaxed and contracted positions in both groups using USG. The height and weight of the patients were recorded in order to calculate BMI. Statistical analysis was performed with significance established at P < .05.

RESULTS

MMT was found to be significantly larger in the study patients than in controls on the right and left sides in the relaxed and contracted positions (P < .001). No statistically significant correlation was found between MMT and BMI (P ≥ .134).

CONCLUSIONS

MMT as measured with USG can be a beneficial approach in diagnosing bruxism in children. The lack of correlation between MMT and BMI indicates that BMI would not be helpful in diagnosing bruxism.

Association between children's resilience and practising oral habits: a cross-sectional study

Introduction While resilience is the quality of being buffered against stressors, practising oral habits is suggested to be a maladaptive behaviour towards stressors. The relation between resilience and practising oral habits in children remains vague.Aims This study aims to investigate the association between practising oral habits and resilience in children aged 5-7 years.Materials and methods An electronic Google form questionnaire was distributed through social media among five schools' children's parents, utilising the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised Person Most Knowledgeable version (PMK-CYRM-R) scale as a resilience assessment tool, and the third domain of interview part of the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screen (NOT-S) as a habit assessment tool. The questionnaire received 227 eligible responses which were divided into habit-free group (123; 54.19%) and habit-practising group (104; 45.81%). The third domain of the interview part of the NOT-S included sucking habit, bruxism and nail-biting habits. The mean PMK-CYRM-R scores were calculated for each group and statistical analysis was done using SPSS Statistics package.Results Total PMK-CYRM-R score was 46.05 ± 3.63 in the habit-free group and 44.10 ± 3.59 in the habit-practising group (p = 0.0001). Bruxism, nail-biting and sucking habit subgroups showed statistically significant lower personal resilience levels than the habit-free group.Conclusion The results of the current study suggest that children with low resilience levels may be more likely to practise oral habits.

Breathing problems, being an only child and having parents with possible sleep bruxism are associated with probable sleep bruxism in preschoolers: a population-based study

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of probable sleep bruxism (SB) in preschoolers and associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out with 862 dyads of parents/preschoolers aged 5 from Teresina, Brazil. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire answered by parents/guardians about socioeconomic, demographic, and health condition data. Each child was examined for diagnosis of probable SB based on the presence of dental wear associated or not with the report of teeth grinding by parents/guardians. The analysis of independent variables was stratified into four levels of determinants: demographic characteristics of the child (distal), characteristics of the family, environmental factors (intermediate), and health conditions (proximal). Descriptive analysis and bivariate and multivariate Poisson's regression were performed using a hierarchical approach (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The prevalence of probable SB was 36%. In the final adjusted multivariate hierarchical model, a preschooler who was the only child (PR = 1.25; 95%CI = 1.02-1.51), with breathing problems (PR = 1.43; 95%CI = 1.19-1.73), and having parents/guardians with possible sleep bruxism (PR = 1.65; 95%CI = 1.32-2.07) had a higher prevalence of probable SB.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of probable SB in preschoolers was high and associated with the condition of being an only child, the presence of breathing problems, and having parents/guardians with possible sleep bruxism.

Social, emotional, and behavioral problems and parent-reported sleep bruxism in schoolchildren

BACKGROUND

A number of theories associate emotional factors with the triggering of sleep bruxism (SB). Few studies have used validated instruments to assess psychological characteristics and SB in children. In this study, the authors aimed to assess the prevalence of parent-reported SB in children and its association with social, emotional, and behavioral problems.

METHODS

The authors conducted a cross-sectional study with a school-based sample at 20 public schools in Brazil. Parents or caregivers provided information related to tooth-grinding sounds during sleep and about children's social, emotional, and behavioral problems by using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Analyses were carried out considering each subscale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the total score. The authors estimated prevalence ratios by using a Poisson regression model. Statistical inferences were based on 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 556 children aged 8 years were included. Prevalence of SB was 30.83%. Results of an adjusted analysis showed a significant association of SB with higher scores on total difficulties (overall score) (P < .001) and emotional symptoms (P < .001) and peer relationship problems (P = .010) subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental reports of emotional and behavioral problems were associated with a higher prevalence of SB in schoolchildren.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This study's results contribute to those of previous investigations about the association between psychological characteristics and SB. Interdisciplinary research involving dentistry and psychology may improve the understanding of bruxism.

Behavioral and clinical aspects associated with probable sleep bruxism in early childhood

Abstract Introduction Although many studies are being carried out with sleep bruxism, the literature points to a lack of studies with methodological quality in children. Objective To evaluate the behavioral and clinical aspects associated with probable sleep bruxism in early childhood. Material and method A cross-sectional observational study carried out with 371 children between 4 and 6 years of age. Parents answered a questionnaire with aspects related to their children's sleep behavior. Among the clinical characteristics, the presence of lip sealing, clicking, teeth marks on the jugal mucosa, and the side of the tongue was evaluated. Tooth wear was assessed using the BEWE index criteria. Simple logistic regression models were adjusted for each independent variable, estimating the gross odds ratios with the respective 95% confidence intervals. Variables with P <0.20 in the individual analyzes were adjusted in a multiple logistic regression model, with those with P ≤ 0.05 remaining in the model. Result 42.4% of parents reported that their children gritted their teeth while sleeping. Children who showed wear on their teeth were 1.53 times more likely to grind their teeth. There was no significant association with the other variables analyzed (P > 0.05). Conclusion Behavioral aspects were not associated with probable sleep bruxism. Among the clinical characteristics evaluated, tooth wear showed an association, which may indicate the probable bruxism of sleep in early childhood.