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Determinants for craniofacial pains in children 6-8 years of age: the PANIC study
Anu Vierola1,2, Anna Liisa Suominen1,3, Aino-Maija Eloranta2
1a Department of Dentistry , University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus , Kuopio , Finland.
Insights
Pediatric craniofacial pain is common. Prepubertal children experiencing restless sleep, sleep bruxism, and skipping meals have a higher likelihood of developing these pains.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric dentistry
- Pain research
- Sleep science
Background:
- Craniofacial pain conditions, including orofacial pain, headache, morning headache, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), are prevalent in children.
- Understanding the determinants of these pain conditions in prepubertal children is crucial for early intervention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the determinants of orofacial pain, headache, morning headache, and painful signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in prepubertal children.
- To identify risk factors associated with these pain conditions in a young population.
Main Methods:
- A population sample of 439 children aged 6-8 years was assessed.
- Data on craniofacial pain, eating habits, sleep bruxism, sleep quality, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), psychological well-being, parental education, and income were collected via questionnaires.
- Sleep duration was measured using sensors, and clinical signs of TMD and dental occlusion were evaluated by a dentist. Logistic regression was used for analysis.
Main Results:
- 26% of children reported orofacial pain, 31% headache, 17% morning headache, and 13% had painful TMD signs.
- Restless sleep was linked to increased risk of orofacial pain and TMD.
- Sleep bruxism and skipping meals were associated with morning headache, while headache increased the risk of TMD.
Conclusions:
- Craniofacial pains are common in prepubertal children.
- Sleep bruxism, restless sleep, and skipping meals are significant risk factors for craniofacial pains in this age group.
- Early identification of these risk factors can aid in preventing and managing pediatric pain conditions.
Objective:
Determinants for orofacial pain, headache, morning headache and painful signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) were investigated in prepubertal children.
Material And Methods:
The participants were a population sample of 439 children aged 6-8 years. Craniofacial pains, eating meals and snacks, sleep bruxism, sleep quality, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), psychological well-being, parental education and household income were assessed by questionnaires filled out by the parents. Sleep duration was assessed using a combined heart rate and movement sensor and clinical signs of TMD and dental occlusion by a dentist. The determinants of pain conditions were analyzed using logistic regression.
Results:
Of all 439 children, 26% had experienced orofacial pain and 31% headache during the past 3 months, 17% had suffered morning headache weekly and 13% had painful signs of TMD in a clinical examination. Restless sleep was associated with increased risk of orofacial pain, the painful signs of TMD and restless sleep with increased risk of headache and restless sleep, sleep bruxism and skipping meals with increased risk of morning headache after adjustment for other independent determinants of these pain conditions. Headache was associated with increased risk for painful signs of TMD.
Conclusions:
Craniofacial pains are common among prepubertal children. Prepubertal children with sleep bruxism, restless sleep and skipping meals have increased likelihood of craniofacial pains.
