Relationship between stress and bruxism in university students: a cross-sectional study

Background: Bruxism is defined as repetitive masticatory muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth and it has been related to psychological factors, such as personality traits, anxiety and stress. Objective: To investigate association between stress and bruxism among university students. Materials and methods:Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (LSSI) was applied to 253 university students in Diamantina, Brazil. The y were clinically evaluated to verify dental wear. The non-instrumental evaluation of probable bruxism was determined by the patients' reports. Sociodemographic variables and self-reported stress data were collected by usi ng the questionnaire. The chi-square test was used, and significance level of 5% ( p<0.05) was adopted. Results: The prevalence of bruxism was 45.8% and stress, 37.9%. There was no significant association between the presence of stress diagnosed by ISSL and bruxism (p = 0.815). Among the students diagnosed as stressed, 31.6% were in the resistance phase. Self-reported stress was associated with the habit of tooth grinding (p < 0.001). Conclusions: No association was found between stress and bruxism. Nevertheless, the prevalence of bruxism among these students was considered high.

Fundamento: O bruxismo é definido como atividade muscular repetitiva da mastigação caracterizada pelo ranger dos dentes e tem sido relacionado a fatores psicológicos, como traços de personalidade, ansiedade e estresse. Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre estresse e bruxismo em universitários. Materiais e métodos:O Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL) foi aplicado a 253 estudantes universitários em Diamantina, Brasil. Eles foram avaliados clinicamente para verificar o desgaste dentário. A avaliação não instrumental de provável bruxismo foi determinada pelos relatos dos pacientes. Variáveis sociodemográficas e dados de estresse autorreferido foram coletados por meio do questionário. Foi utilizado o teste do qui-quadrado e adotado nível de significância de 5% (p <0,05). Resultados: A prevalência de bruxismo foi 45,8% e estresse, 37,9%. Não houve associação significativa entre a presença de estresse diagnosticado pelo ISSL e bruxismo (p = 0,815). Entre os alunos com diagnóstico de estresse, 31,6% encontravam-se na fase de resistência. O estresse autorreferido foi associado ao hábito de ranger os dentes (p <0,001). Conclusões: Não foi encontrada associação entre estresse e bruxismo. Apesar disso, a prevalência de bruxismo entre esses estudantes foi considerada alta.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on periodontal practice: A questionnaire survey.

AIM: This cross-sectional study sought to investigate the factors possibly related to the impact caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the practice of periodontists, in two countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 254 periodontists with active periodontics licensing in Brazil and the United States participated in the survey. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and the dependent variable was the perceived impact of the pandemic on periodontists' practice routines. Odds ratios were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Periodontists in private practice were 83% less likely to report a significant impact of the pandemic on their clinical routine as compared with professionals who work in the public sector or in academic institutions (CI 95%: 0.05-0.47). The financial impact of the pandemic was significantly associated with a perceived severe impact of the pandemic on their routines (OR: 1.36; CI 95%: 1.16-1.61). Professionals who have enhanced their hand-washing routine were more likely to report a significant impact of the pandemic by 3.41 times (CI 95%: 1.28-9.04) relative to those who have not altered their hand-washing protocols. CONCLUSION: The pandemic is associated with a negative impact on the practice of periodontists, especially those working in public sectors and academic institutions.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the Periodontium with biologic width invasion.

BACKGROUND: The biologic width is defined as the coronal dimension to the alveolar bone that is occupied by healthy gingival tissue. The objective of the present study was to correlate radiographic findings of biologic width invasion with the periodontium status. METHODS: It were included 14 patients with restored teeth with biological width invasion, on the proximal sites, observed clinically and radiographically. 122 proximal sites were evaluated, 61 in the test group (biological width invasion) and 61 in the control group (adequate biological width). Smokers and patients presenting periodontal disease or restorations with contact in eccentric movements, horizontal over-contour or secondary caries were excluded from the sample. The invasion of the biologic width was diagnosed when the distance from the gingival margin of restoration to the bony crest was less than 3 mm. Intrabony defect and bone crest level, as well as, their vertical and horizontal components were radiographically evaluated when present. Plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, gingival recession height, keratinized gingival height and thickness, and clinical attachment level were clinically evaluated. Data were subjected to Spearman's Correlation and Wilcoxon's test. RESULT: The most prevalent tooth with biological width invasion was the first molar. There was a statistically significant correlation between the bone crest (p < 0.001), vertical (p < 0.001) and horizontal (p = 0.001) components. In the test group, there was a statistically significant correlation between bleeding on probing (p < 0.001; r = 0.618) and width of gingival recession (p = 0.030; r = - 0.602) with the intraosseous component; and between keratinized gingival height and bone level (p = 0.037; r = - 0.267). In the control group, there was a correlation between plaque index (p = 0.027; r = - 0.283) with bone level and correlation between keratinized gingival thickness and bone level (p = 0.034; r = - 0.273) and intrabony component (p = 0.042; r = 0.226). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant relationship was found between bleeding on probing and gingival recession in patients who presented intrabony defects due to the invasion of biological width, which may be also related to the thickness of the keratinized gingiva.