Covid-19 Impacts on Bruxism and Emotional Well-Being of Dentistry Students

Objectives: To investigate and compare emotional well-being and incidence of bruxism among first and last-year University of Tartu dentistry students pre- and post-COVID.
Methods: Randomized sample included ten first-year and ten last-year students. Participants were clinically examined for signs of bruxism and completed a questionnaire with seven sections: general information, academic progress, sleep quality, emotional well-being, perceived stress scale, bruxism symptoms and possible impact of COVID-19. The study was carried out in 2020 and in 2024 under analogous conditions, statistical analysis used Pearson correlation.
This study was approved by The Ethical Commitee of University of Tartu: 372/T-7.
Results: Mental exhaustion was reported by all fifth-year students, excessive anxiety by 40% of students from each year. Nicotine and tobacco products were used by 80% of first-year and 40% of fifth-year students. First-year students prone to bruxism experienced higher emotional difficulties (r=0.774). “Probable bruxism” was present in 60% of fifth-year students, whose alcohol consumption and bruxism symptoms correlated negatively (r=-0.765). Among first-year students there was strong correlation between bruxism and several emotional parameters. In contrast, last-year students showed strong correlation between academic progress and several emotional parameters.
First-year students’ emotional well-being correlated with changes in anxiety during lockdown (r=0,453), changes in ability to concentrate during lockdown (r=-0.433) and possibilities to practice a hobby during lockdown (r=0.485). Last-year students exhibited correlation between emotional well-being and living alone (r=0.562) as well as between emotional well-being and changes in anxiety during lockdown (r=-0.780).
In comparison with the initial study, general emotional well-being among dental students has deteriorated, yet symptoms of bruxism as well as sleep disorders have become less frequent.
Conclusions: Study’s findings suggest that symptoms of bruxism and emotional disorders continue to occur among dentistry students. Deterioration of emotional well-being may cause academic difficulties, amplify use of nicotine and tobacco products and increase the incidence of bruxism. COVID-19 can be considered among causes of upward trend in emotional difficulties.