Primary tooth wear in children from different social environments.

Bilingual schools have more hours and high levels of academic demands. Aims: To compare the degree of dental wear and frequency of severe wear facets between children from public rural schools (RG) and children from private bilingual schools in Buenos Aires City (PG). To compare the presence of facets to parents' reports on bruxism and their opinion on the importance to health of bruxism and snoring. Materials and Method: The sample (n=90) consisted of 5- and 10-year-old children. Their parents/guardians were asked to complete a structured questionnaire on bruxism and snoring. Children's degrees of dental wear on primary incisors, canines and molars were identified and recorded. The data were analyzed statistically. Results: The relative risk of wear between PG and RG was 1.82. Bruxism and snoring were reported by 22.9% of the parents/guardians of 5-year-olds and 8.8% of the parents/guardians of 10-year-olds. In 10-year-olds, significant differences were found between RG and PG for canine wear degree 3 (p=0.01). Conclusions: Children from highly demanding schools presented more dental wear. Higher frequency of severe dental wear was observed in primary canines and molars late in the tooth replacement period regardless of whether sleep bruxism was reported. Parents/guardians from different social conditions considered that bruxism and snoring are important to health to similar degrees.

Las escuelas bilingües tienen mayor carga horaria y altos niveles de exigencia académica. Objetivos: Comparar en niños preescolares y escolares de escuela pública rural (GR) y de colegios privados bilingües de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (GP) el grado de desgaste dentario y la frecuencia de facetas de desgaste severo. Comparar la presencia de facetas con el reporte de los padres sobre el bruxismo y su opinión sobre la importancia de bruxar y roncar. Materiales y Método: Muestra (n=90) conformada con niños de 5 y 10 años, cuyos responsables completaron un cuestionario estructurado. Fueron registrados y analizados estadísticamente los grados de desgaste dentario en incisivos, caninos y molares primarios. Resultados: El riesgo relativo de desgaste entre GP y GR fue 1,82. El 22,9% de los responsables de los niños de 5 años y el 8,8% de los de 10 años reportaron que bruxan y roncan. En relación a la muestra de 10 años, se hallaron diferencias significativas para caninos desgaste grado 3 entre GR y GP (p=0.01). Conclusiones: Los niños de escuelas con alta exigencia presentaron más desgaste. Se observó mayor frecuencia de desgaste dentario severo en caninos y molares primarios al final del recambio dentario independiente al reporte de bruxismo nocturno. Los cuidadores de diferente condición social revelaron valoración semejante sobre la importancia en la salud del bruxismo y el ronquido.

The interplay of academic procrastination, self-generated stress, and self-reported bruxism among medical and dental students: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Academic procrastination (AP), a common behavior among students, is influenced by factors such as fear of failure, task aversiveness, anxiety, and stress. Self-generated stress (SGS) refers to the subjective experience of tension that occurs in response to an existing situation. Individuals often overestimate the difficulty and attainability of a task, resulting in increased stress and extended stress duration. SGS can worsen mental and physical health problems, including bruxism. Therefore, this study investigates the possible underlying connections by examining the relationship between AP, SGS, and self-reported (SR) bruxism in medical and dental students. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was undertaken among a sample of 379 students pursuing medical and dentistry degrees in Turkey. The questionnaire, including the Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form, SR bruxism Scale, and SGS Scale, was administered to the students. According to the responses given to the SR bruxism Scale, 3 types of SR bruxism groups were created as sleep, awake, and compound. A comparative analysis was conducted on AP, SGS, and SR bruxism among medical and dental students. Furthermore, the associations among AP, SGS, and SR bruxism were assessed using the utilization of correlation tables and regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of awake bruxism was higher among dental students (46.6%) compared to medical students (34.7%), suggesting a faculty-dependent trend. A significant positive correlation was observed between SGS and AP (r = 0.212, p < 0.001). Median AP values differed significantly based on awake bruxism (p = 0.007) and compound bruxism (p = 0.013), but not sleep bruxism (p = 0.352). SGS exhibited statistically significant differences across all SR bruxism types: sleep (p < 0.001), awake (p < 0.001), and compound (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis identified SGS as a significant risk factor for SR bruxism, with a one-unit increase in stress score elevating the SR bruxism risk by 1.086 times. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that self-generated stress significantly increases the risk for the development of SR bruxism. A significant relationship was found between academic procrastination and self-generated stress, and this relationship was particularly associated with an increased risk for the development of compound and awake bruxism. Stress-reducing therapy methods should be recommended for students to both increase academic success by reducing academic procrastination and prevent the negative effects of stress-related SR bruxism.

The Prevalence of Bruxism and Associated Factors Among Patients with Schizophrenia in Istanbul, Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that involves profound impairment of psychopathology in cognition, emotion, perception, and other aspects of behavior. Factors, such as the nature of the disease, length of hospital stay, duration of illness, and side effects of psychotropic drugs, may contribute to poor oral health and the risk of developing bruxism in patients with schizophrenia. AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of bruxism and associated factors in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single center with 211 patients with schizophrenia. Study participants were graded according to "probable" bruxism based on positive clinical inspection, with or without a positive self-report. The type of antipsychotic treatment used in participants was evaluated in three categories: typical antipsychotic monotherapy, atypical antipsychotic monotherapy, and a combination of both. Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between probable bruxism and different factors. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 51.02 ± 9.29 years, and 112 (52.5%) were males. Probable bruxism was identified in 87 (41.2%) of the study participants. Younger age (AOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.838-0.928, P < 0.001), higher duration of illness (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.278-7.545, P < 0.001), and combination antipsychotic therapy (AOR = 3.042, 95% CI = 1.278-7.545, P = 0.015) were significant factors associated with probable bruxism among patients with schizophrenia on treatment. CONCLUSION: The relatively high prevalence of probable bruxism in patients with schizophrenia and its relation to antipsychotics was observed. There is a need for more research on the causes and treatment of bruxism in schizophrenia.

Assessing the prevalence and risk of tooth wear in Parkinson's disease: A narrative review.

Tooth wear is an increasingly common problem that affects the quality of life. Although previous research suggested that oral health is adversely affected in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to healthy controls, tooth wear has not been extensively studied in this context. Particularly, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence and risk factors associated with tooth wear in PD patients. The aim of this study is to review the current literature on the prevalence and risk factors of tooth wear in PD patients and to propose hypotheses for future research on this topic. A literature search was conducted in PubMed. A total of 4 publications were identified: 1 case report and 3 questionnaire-based studies. These articles suggest that tooth wear is a more significant issue in PD patients than in healthy controls. In addition, potential associations between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), bruxism and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain on the one hand, and tooth wear on the other hand, were identified in PD patients. Due to the limited number of articles published on this topic, it is not possible to definitively conclude whether tooth wear is a common problem in PD patients. However, the following hypotheses could be formulated: 1) tooth wear is more prevalent in PD patients than in healthy controls; 2) risk factors for tooth wear observed in healthy individuals are more prevalent among PD patients; and 3) multiple risk factors for tooth wear likely coexist in people with PD, potentially influencing the prevalence and progression of tooth wear in this population.

Do symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders have an association with breathing pattern: a cross-sectional study on Turkish children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: This paper aimed to explore the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) signs/symptoms, and to investigate the possible link between signs/symptoms of TMDs and mouth breathing (MB) by evaluating along with other risk factors, in a Turkish subpopulation of children and adolescence. METHODS: This study was conducted with the archival data of the patients who applied with orthodontic complaints. Data on demographic characteristics, family-related factors, systemic status, occlusion, breathing patterns, oral habits, and bruxism were retrieved from the archival records. RESULTS: Nine hundred forty-five children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.82 ± 2.06 years were included in the study. Of the participants, 66% were girls, 60.4% were delivered by C-section, 8.4% of the participants had at least one systemic disease, 9.2% of the participants had allergy, and 4.3% of the participants' parents were divorced, 18.7% have an oral habit, 6.6% have bruxism, 29.8% have malocclusion and 14.1% have MB. Eight-point-five percent of participants have signs/symptoms of TMD. Among them 2.9% have pain, 3.7% have joint sounds, 1.4% have deflection, and 3.9% have deviation. Evaluation of the risk factors revealed a significant relation between the signs/symptoms of TMD and bruxism (OR 8.07 95% CI 4.36-14.92), gender (OR 2.01 95% CI 1.13-3.59), marital status of parents (OR 2.62 95% CI 1.07-6.42), and MB (OR 3.26 95% CI 1.86-5.71). CONCLUSIONS: According to the study's findings, girls and those with bruxism, divorced parents, and MB behavior are more likely to have signs/symptoms of TMD. Age found to have significant effect on the occurrence of the signs/symptoms of TMD alone, but together with other factors the effect of the age is disappeared. Early screening and intervention of MB as well as the signs/symptoms of TMD can help to limit detrimental effects of these conditions on growth, and quality of life of children and adolescents.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders and their associated factors in Confucian heritage cultures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may be an 'idiom' of psychological distress in Confucian heritage cultures (CHCs). OBJECTIVES: This systematic review/meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of TMDs in CHCs and compared the differences in TMD occurrence between time periods and age groups. Additionally, the associated biopsychosocial risk factors were also examined. METHODS: The study protocol was developed a priori following the PRISMA guidelines and Joanna Briggs Institute systematic review methodology (CRD42021245526). Electronic searches of seven databases were conducted from January 2002 to Dec 2021. Reference lists of identified studies were hand-searched for additional articles. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were done. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: Forty-eight articles were included in the systematic review. Overall prevalences were: TMDs-15% (95% CI: 15-16%); TMD pain-8% (95% CI: 7-9%); TMJ sounds-24% (95% CI: 21-27%); and TMJ locking-7% (95% CI: 1-13%). While TMD prevalence appeared to have declined from 2002 to 2011 to 2012-2021, the occurrence of TMD pain, TMJ sounds, and locking increased marginally or remained constant. TMD prevalence in children/adolescents was 18% (95% CI: 14-22%) and 17% (95% CI: 16-18%) among adults. Significant associations between TMDs and bruxism/psychological distress/education levels were specified by 73%/90%/88% of the relevant studies. CONCLUSIONS: TMDs are prevalent in CHCs and a slight increase in TMD pain (2%) and TMJ sounds (8%) were discerned over the past two decades. TMDs are related to a myriad of biopsychosocial variables, particularly psychological distress, and these factors must be addressed within the cultural context of patients.

Oral habits and temporomandibular joint disorders according to stress levels among military personnel in South Korea: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Military personnel suffer from stress-induced temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). No previous studies have evaluated the oral habits and TMD in military personnel based on their stress levels. OBJECTIVES: To examine the correlation between oral habits and TMD based on stress levels. In addition, we assessed the relationship between stress levels and TMD by military rank as well as the impact of oral habits on TMD. METHOD: This cross-sectional survey included 89 military personnel who visited the Armed Forces Medical Center in Korea with discomfort in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort. Oral habits, stress level, TMD and general characteristics of the subjects were investigated. A questionnaire was distributed to the subjects who agreed to the study, and they were asked to respond in a self-written form. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the factors that affect oral habits and TMJ symptoms. RESULTS: Stress scores and oral habits were highest in the 'Private' rank. In contrast, temporomandibular joint symptoms were highest in the 'Corporal' rank. Additionally, the high-risk stress group exhibited higher scores in oral habits and TMD compared to the potential stress group. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between an increase in high-risk stress scores and a rise in oral habits. And individuals with more oral habits are at an increased likelihood of experiencing TMD. CONCLUSION: Our study findings suggest that military personnel with prevent TMD and improve oral habits by addressing stress levels.

[Temporomandibular dysfunction and bruxism in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and at-risk patients: a cross-sectional study]. / Temporomandibulaire disfunctie en bruxisme bij patiënten met vroege reumatoïde artritis en risicopatiënten: een cross-sectioneel onderzoek.

What is the prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis? 3 groups (of 50 participants each) were examined for a possible TMD diagnosis: 1. patients with early rheumatoid arthritis, 2. at-risk individuals, and 3. healthy controls. A possible association with bruxism, determined on the basis of self-reporting and clinical features, was also examined. At-risk patients had a higher prevalence of TMD pain diagnoses compared to healthy controls (p = 0.046). Within the early rheumatoid arthritis group, seronegative patients had a higher prevalence of TMD pain diagnoses than seropositive patients (p = 0.048). No further differences in the prevalence of TMD diagnoses were found between the groups. Participants with a TMD pain diagnosis were more often diagnosed with probable sleep bruxism than those without a TMD pain diagnosis. The prevalence of TMD pain is increased in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative early rheumatoid arthritis patients, and is associated with signs of bruxism.

Physical manifestations of stress in women. Correlations between temporomandibular and pelvic floor disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Stress is characterized as a challenging occurrence that triggers a physiological and/or behavioral allostatic response, alongside the demands typically encountered throughout the natural course of life. A sustained state of stress gives rise to secondary effects, including insomnia and neck pain. Also, the risk of musculoskeletal problems in the cervical and lumbar spine can be increased due to a sustained state of stress. The present study main objective is to study the association between orofacial and pelvic floor muscles in women in Spain. METHODOLOGY: An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective analytical study was designed and carried out in the laboratories of the European University of Madrid. Sixty-five participants were recruited with a mean age of 29.9 ± 7.69. Measurements were taken by myotonometry on natural oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m), elasticity (N/m2), mechanical stress relaxation time (ms) and creep, for the following muscles: right and left masseter, right and left temporalis and central fibrous nucleus of the perineum (CFPF). On the other hand, the subjects completed the following questionnaires: perceived stress scale (PSS-14), anxiety scale (STAI), self-reported bruxism questionnaire (CBA), Fonseca Anamnestic Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI). RESULTS: Significant correlations were found in several parameters between the right temporalis and CFPF (p<0.05). Highlighting the correlation between TMDs and lubrication r = -0.254 (p = 0.041) and bruxism with pain in sexual intercourse r = 0.261 (p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: The results support the proposed hypothesis. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study which relates both locations, and it is suggested to continue with the research and expand the knowledge of it.

Temporomandibular Disorders, Bruxism and Headaches.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and headache disorders are highly prevalent in the population. TMDs can present headache symptoms as a secondary headache and, in addition, be comorbid with primary headache disorders. This overlap has significant clinical implications for which it is essential for the physician to be aware, and they should screen for the potential presence of TMDs in a headache patient. Bruxism is a parafunctional behavior also prevalent in the population which has a role in TMDs and may influence headache symptomatology, but it is still necessary to clarify this relationship.

Temporomandibular joint disorders and associated factors in a Turkish pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the presence and severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) signs and symptoms in a Turkish pediatric population, as well as their relationship to parafunctional behaviors, bruxism, malocclusion, anxiety, and sociodemographic traits. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients between the ages of 5-15. Demographic variables, TMD signs and symptoms, parafunctional habits, bruxism, and malocclusion were evaluated by clinical examination. Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) was used to determine the presence and severity of TMD. State-Trait Anxiety Scale for Children (STAI-C) was used to evaluate the anxiety. Student t, Mann-Whitney U, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two participants (85 girls, 77 boys) with a mean age of 10.03 ± 1.88 years were included. The frequency of the participants who reported signs/symptoms of TMD was 19.7% according to FAI scores. Logistic regression analysis with the associated factors showed a significant relationship between the presence of the signs/symptoms of TMD and parafunctional habits (OR 4.24, 95% CI 1.64-10.93), and the presence of signs/symptoms of anxiety (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.16). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents who exhibit parafunctional behaviors and anxiety had a higher likelihood of having TMD signs/symptoms of varying degrees of severity.

Self-reported sleep bruxism and mortality in 1990-2020 in a nationwide twin cohort.

BACKGROUND: The association of sleep bruxism with mortality has not been studied. OBJECTIVES: Altogether 12 040 subjects from the nationwide Finnish twin cohort were included in the analyses. We examined whether self-reported sleep bruxism is associated with increased risk of mortality, and if so, whether the effect is independent of known common risk factors. The time span of the follow-up was 30 years. METHODS: Cox proportional hazards regression models (Hazard Ratios and their 95% Confidence Intervals) adjusted by age, sex and covariates were used to assess the effect of baseline bruxism status in 1990 on future mortality in 1990-2020. RESULTS: The risk of mortality among all participants (n = 12 040), independent of missing covariates and adjusted by age and sex, was 40% higher in weekly bruxers than in never bruxers (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.16-1.68, p < .001). However, when adjusted by all studied covariates, (n = 11 427) the risk was no longer observed (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.86-1.25, p = .717). Despite the overall lack of between bruxism and mortality after adjustment for covariates, we examined the cause-specific risks for major cause-of-death groups. There were no substantial associations of weekly bruxism with major disease outcomes by the fully adjusted hazard ratios for them. CONCLUSION: Bruxism does not kill-in line with its definition of being rather a behaviour (with all its phenotypes) than a disease.

A worldwide bibliometric analysis of the research trends and hotspots of bruxism in adults during 1991-2021.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the increasing attention to bruxism, the research on bruxism is increasing rapidly. However, there is still a lack of systematic bibliometric analysis in the field of bruxism in adults. This study aimed to comprehensively explore and visualize the global trends and research hotspots in the field of bruxism in adults during 1991-2021. METHODS: The study searched the literature published during 1991-2021 in the Web of Science Core Collection database without language restrictions. VOSviewer, CiteSpace and Microsoft Excel were applied to analyse the authors, institutions, journals, countries, cited references, keywords and other information of the included publications, and construct visualized cooperation networks. RESULTS: A total of 878 articles were finally included. The top two most productive authors in the past 30 years were Lobbezoo F and Manfredini D. ACTA-Amsterdam, Univ Sao Paulo, Univ Helsinki, Univ Padua, Univ Montreal, et al. were prominent institutions in this field. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation made outstanding contributions in this field. The United States produced the most documents in this field, followed by Brazil. Both countries and authors cooperated closely around the world. The two most cited articles focused on the definition, assessment and classification of bruxism. In recent years, diagnostic criteria and stress have begun to receive a lot of attention. CONCLUSION: From 1991 to 2021, the attention to bruxism in adults continued to increase. Diagnostic criteria and stress may be potential research hotspots in this field. This study references relevant scholars on development trends and research hotspots.

Bruxism and oro-facial pain not related to temporomandibular disorder conditions: Comorbidities or risk factors?

INTRODUCTION: Bruxism has historically been of particular interest to the field of dentistry, primarily due to the inferred damage it may cause to the dentition and supporting periodontal structures. The definition of bruxism itself has undergone multiple changes over time. In addition, the effects of bruxism as it relates to oro-facial pain conditions has remained a debatable topic. PURPOSE: To review the available literature relating to bruxism and non-temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain conditions. METHODS: A literature search was conducted with the assistance of an expert librarian. The following databases were reviewed: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar. For additional references, articles were also retrieved by hand search from the selected papers. Any articles that were not published in English, or the focus were related to temporomandibular disorders were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: While bruxism and certain headache conditions do tend to occur together frequently, evidence relating to any clear common pathophysiological mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Robust evidence as it relates to the relationship between bruxism and other non-TMD oro-facial pains is also lacking.

The association between orthodontic treatment and temporomandibular disorders diagnosis and disease characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The association between orthodontic treatment and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has been contentious in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the associations between orthodontic treatment and TMD diagnosis and diseases characteristics. METHODS: This case-control study included 291 individuals, 192 TMDs and 99 controls. All patients underwent assessment based on a questionnaire and a clinical examination according to Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Differences in orthodontic treatment between TMDs and controls, as well as across different TMD diagnoses within the TMD group were analysed. Patients who underwent orthodontic treatment were compared to those who did not, regarding their trauma history, bruxism, aggressive teeth brushing, level of oral hygiene, pain scores, muscle tenderness scores and subjective sleep quality. RESULTS: Of the 291 participants, 119 (40.9%) underwent orthodontic treatment and 172 (59.1%) had no orthodontics experience. Orthodontic treatment included: mandibular orthodontic treatment (102 subjects) and maxillary orthodontic treatment (113 subjects) of those 47 used a headgear. Following multivariate analysis among TMDs, orthodontic treatment was associated with a good level of oral hygiene versus poor (Odds ratio [OR]: 5.17 [1.04-25.59]), lower number of tender muscles [OR = 0.84 (0.74-0.96)] and lower (better) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (OR = 0.86 [0.76-0.97]). None of the studied parameters maintained a statistically significant association with orthodontic treatment in the multivariate analysis among the entire study population. CONCLUSIONS: Utilising a holistic approach, this study supports the main hypothesis that orthodontic treatment is not associated with TMD diagnosis and disease characteristics.

Influence of psychiatric symptom profiles of parents on sleep bruxism intensity of their children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of parental anxiety, depression levels and psychiatric symptom profiles of parents on the occurrence of sleep bruxism in children. MATERIAL & METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 94 children aged 6 to 12 years, divided into two groups: with sleep bruxism (bruxism group-BG) and without sleep bruxism (control group-CG). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), Symptom Checklist and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-Parent (SCARED-P) scale were used to assess anxiety and depression levels of parents. All questionnaires were filled out by parents of children. Intraoral and extraoral examinations were carried out of children in the clinic and sleep bruxism was determined. All stress conditions were investigated by logistic regression analysis. In the comparison of the qualitative data, chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used. RESULTS: The data revealed that participants whose mothers had high anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity scores, and participants whose fathers had a medium level of obsessive-compulsive disorder were more likely to have an SB problem (p < 0.05). According to the results of BDI, the fathers' results between the BG and the CG were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the mothers' results between the BG and the CG were statistically significant (p < 0.05) When all subscales of SCARED-P were evaluated, the separation anxiety disorder subscore was statistically significant in the bruxism group. CONCLUSION: The psychological status of parents is a significant risk factor associated with SB development in school-age children.

Fatal Complication of Mouthguard Used to Treat Awake Bruxism in Patient with Frontotemporal Dementia.

Awake bruxism is an understudied manifestation of frontotemporal dementia, yet awake bruxism can have fatal consequences in the aging population. This report presents a patient suffering from awake bruxism associated with frontotemporal dementia being treated with a mouthguard, which ultimately becomes lodged in her posterior oropharynx leading to asphyxiation. The case highlights the need for investigation into the occurrence and treatment of awake bruxism among patients with dementia, and the unique risk-benefit analysis that must be performed to develop proper treatment plans for patients with dementia.

Social capital and possible bruxism during the COVID-19 pandemic among Brazilian undergraduates.

This study investigated the prevalence of possible bruxism and its association with social capital among undergraduates during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private university in Southern Brazil. Data were collected through a self-administered electronic questionnaire (Google Forms). Possible bruxism was measured using the following question: "Do you grind your teeth or clench your jaws?". Social capital was evaluated using individual social networks. Data on self-perceived oral health, anxiety, sociodemographics, and information related to university graduates were also collected. Adjusted logistic regression models with a hierarchical approach were used to evaluate associations. The results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Altogether, 345 undergraduates participated in the study, with a mean age of 21.8 years (standard deviation = 5.21). The prevalence of bruxism in the sample was 57.1%. Undergraduates with low social capital had 2.06 times greater odds of bruxism than their counterparts (OR 2.06; 95%CI 1.11-3.83). Female undergraduates (OR 2.40, 95%CI 1.39-4.12), those who were in the final year of university (OR 1.13, 95%CI 1.04-1.21), and those who perceived they needed dental treatment (OR 1.91; CI: 1.21-3.02) also had greater odds of possible bruxism. In conclusion, the prevalence of possible bruxism was high among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated with lower social capital levels. Knowledge of these factors is important to identify risk groups and plan strategies to control bruxism in this population.

Prevalence of awake bruxism in the adult population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of awake bruxism (AB) in the adult population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six main electronic databases and three sources of grey literature were searched to identify cross-sectional studies in which AB was assessed. The studies were independently selected by two reviewers in two phases, based on their eligibility criteria. The first one consisted of reading titles and abstracts, and the second one involved reading the full articles. The study quality assessment was obtained by using the "Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data", and the "R Statistics" software was used to perform meta-analyses. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 3086 identified studies were included. None of the studies scored high in methodological quality across all 9 items of the JBI checklist. However, "the use of valid methods to identify pathology" and "appropriate statistical analysis" were considered to have high methodological quality in all the studies. The overall pooled prevalence of the meta-analysis was 15.44% (99% confidence interval: 10.81 to 20.72%) and there was no difference for sex, sampling method and according to consensus-based classification. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AB in adults was low. There was substantial methodological variability, which highlights the need for standardized guidelines. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prevalence data are useful for raising patients' and clinicians' awareness of the AB. Moreover, since AB can lead to possible pain and overload of the stomatognathic system, this knowledge can also guide dentists to achieve an early diagnosis of AB and to provide appropriate care management.

The continuous adverse impact of COVID-19 on temporomandibular disorders and bruxism: comparison of pre- during- and post-pandemic time periods.

INTRODUCTION: Some of the conditions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and bruxism. The present study compares the effect of the pandemic on TMD and bruxism (sleep and awake) in three time periods: before the pandemic (pre-COV), during the pandemic (during-COV) and after the pandemic subsided (post-COVR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 587 adult patients (108 in the pre-COV group, 180 in the during-COV group and 252 in the post-COVR group) who arrived for a routine dental treatment between October 2018 and January 2023 were evaluated according to Axis I diagnosis of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Each patient received a DC/TMD Axis I diagnosis as follows: (i) Painful TMD (defined by the presence of at least one of the following - local myalgia, myofascial pain with referral, arthralgia or headache attributed to TMD); (ii) Non painful TMD (defined by the presence of disc displacement with/without reduction, degenerative joint disorders and/or dislocation), (iii) Possible sleep bruxism (SB) and/or (iv) Possible awake bruxism (AB). STATISTICAL METHODS: Logistic regression analyses were conducted to establish the impact of time and gender on the prospects of painful TMD, non-painful TMD, SB and AB. RESULTS: The odds of subjects to be diagnosed with painful TMD at the post-COVR era were 3.3 times higher compared to the pre-pandemic time period (pre-COV, 95% C.I. 1.438-7.585). The odds of subjects to be diagnosed with non-painful TMD during-COV were 4 times higher compared to the pre-COV era (95% C.I. 1.332-12.542). The odds of subjects to present possible SB at post-COVR were 2.7 times higher compared to pre-pandemic (pre-COV, 95% C.I. 1.258-5.889, p < 0.05) and the odds to present possible AB after the pandemic subsided (post-COVR) were 3.2 times compared to the pre-pandemic period (95% C.I. 1.496-6.949). The odds of female subjects to be diagnosed with either painful or non-painful TMD were 3.7-4.4 times higher, compared to males. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that with regard to TMD and bruxism the pandemic adverse effects persist also after COVID-19 subsides and the restrictions caused by it are abolished. Apparently, during the pandemic females were affected more seriously by painful and non-painful TMD than males.