Prevalance And Related Factors Of Bruxism In Children, A Preliminary Study

Objective Bruxism is a parafunctional habit that is frequently seen in children and it’s characterized by unconsciously clenching and grinding the teeth. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bruxism in children aged 3–12 years in USAK, Turkey and to evaluate the factors associated with bruxism. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to the parents of 346 children aged 3–12 years who attended to the paediatric dentistry department within 3 months. The children were diagnosed with bruxism by a questionnaire based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria administered to the parents. With this questionnaire consisting of 6 questions, factors related to bruxism were also questioned. Data were analysed by SPSS version22 for Windows( SPSS, Chicago;Il.,USA ). Chi square and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to assess statistical differences between categorical variables. Results The prevalence of bruxism was %24,9. There was a significant correlation between bruxism and pain around the temple and gums in wake up in the morning. Bruxism was more common in children who were reported to be stressed by their families. Statistically significant relationship was found between stress and bad habits such as nail biting, thumb sucking. Conclusion The prevalence of bruxism was high in childhood and was associated with many factors. Early diagnose and treatment of bruxism is important to reduce the incidence of future temporomandibular dysfunction.