This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sleeping bruxism (SB) and the variables associated to its development among children attending the children’s dental clinic of the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI).
Method:
This is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 123 children of both genders, aged from 3 to 12 years of age and whose parents or caregivers agreed to participate with the research and signed a free informed term of consent (FITC). The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of UFPI and the survey was conducted in children's dental clinic of UFPI from August to December of 2011. SB among children was reported by parents and caregivers through a questionnaire about their children’s behavior and habits, including the presence of snoring or grinding of teeth during sleep, headaches, oral habits and general health. These children were also submitted to clinical examinations of dental arches and occlusion. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS ® 18.0. version. A Chi-square test (c²) was used with a significance level of 95%.
Result:
Among the 123 children, 51 (38.3%) had SB, 23 (45.1%) of which were female and 28 (54.9%) were male. The predominant age group was 3-6 years (39.2%). There was prevalence among children living with both parents in the same home (46.9%) and whose parents had 8-11 years of formal study (61.2%). Most children who had SB had also parafunctional habits (61%) with a statistically significant association (p=0.027). The most prevalent habit was biting objects or lips (59,4%).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of SB was considered high in the sample evaluated and it could be observed a statistically significant association of SB with parafunctional habits. The age group in which children had the primary dentition was the most affected.