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Sleep bruxism and anxiety level in children

Marcelo Tomás de Oliveira1, Sandra Teixeira Bittencourt1, Karina Marcon1

  • 1Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC, Brazil.

Brazilian Oral Research
|January 29, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children experiencing anxiety may be more prone to developing sleep bruxism. This study found higher anxiety levels in children with sleep bruxism compared to those without, suggesting a direct link.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Child Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep bruxism (SB) is an oral behavior that occurs during sleep.
  • Anxiety disorders are increasingly recognized in pediatric populations.
  • The relationship between anxiety and SB in children requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between anxiety levels and the presence of sleep bruxism in children.
  • To compare anxiety levels in children with and without diagnosed sleep bruxism.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 84 children aged six to eight years was divided into a sleep bruxism group (BG) and a control group (CG).
  • Sleep bruxism was diagnosed using American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) criteria, including clinical examination for tooth wear.
  • Parental questionnaires assessed children's behavior and habits, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) was administered.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant difference in anxiety levels was observed between the groups (Student's t-test, p = 0.0136).
  • Children diagnosed with sleep bruxism exhibited higher scores on the STAIC scale compared to the control group.
  • The findings indicate a direct relationship between anxiety and the onset of sleep bruxism in children.

Conclusions:

  • Anxiety may be a contributing factor to the development of sleep bruxism in children.
  • Pediatric healthcare providers should consider assessing for anxiety in children presenting with sleep bruxism.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms of this association.

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