Oral Habits: Prevalence and Effects on Occlusion Among 7 to 13 Years Old School Children in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of deleterious oral habits and its effect on occlusion in school going children from 7 to 13 years old, in Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by clinical examination for the total sample of 750, who were attending private/ government schools in Aseer region school. Students were selected by stratified cluster random sampling. Clinical findings of each oral habits, including assessment of malocclusion, were examined involving the following parameters, i.e., crowding, spacing, open bite, crossbite and deep bite. Logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: Boys had 26.2 % of crowded teeth, while 16.3% of girls were found to have crowded teeth; the difference was found to be significant (p=0.002). Spacing was present in 26.4% of boys and 16.7% girls; a significant difference was found between the two (p=0.002). Sleep bruxism was observed more among male subjects than females with a statistically significant difference in detrimental habits (p<0.001). Those subjects having tongue thrusting are 1.264 times at more risk of having crowded teeth than those with no tongue thrusting. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of malocclusion associated with harmful oral habits in children. This highlighted the need to implement programs of oral care and health education for preventive orthodontic treatment at an early age.

A importância da placa estabilizadora no tratamento do bruxismo e cefaleia matinal - relato de caso / The importance of the stabilization splint in the treatment of bruxism and morning headaches - case report

Este estudo teve como objetivo relatar um caso de bruxismo e cefaleia matinal, o qual foi tratado com placa estabilizadora para impedir o desgaste dentário e reduzir a dor orofacial de origem muscular. A paciente procurou a disciplina de Clínica Integrada com queixa de dores de cabeça e na face frequentes logo ao acordar. Após anamnese, exame físico intraoral e palpação muscular, a paciente foi diagnosticada com cefaleia matutina e dor facial de origem muscular relacionadas com bruxismo noturno (atividade parafuncional). Como tratamento, foi proposta a confecção de uma placa estabilizadora para uso noturno. No primeiro retorno após uma semana, a paciente relatou melhora na cefaleia matutina, e após um mês, os sintomas praticamente desapareceram. A mesma foi instruída a continuar usando a placa para dormir com o objetivo de proteger seus dentes de um desgaste maior, mesmo que as dores cessassem ompletamente. Recomendou-se retorno após 3 meses para acompanhamento dos sinais e sintomas. Apesar da inexistência de tratamento curativo, o tratamento com placa estabilizadora apresenta-se como uma importante opção terapêutica no controle da dor muscular e prevenção dos desgastes dentários.

This study aimed to report a clinical case of bruxism and morning headaches in which the patient was treated with a stabilization splint to prevent tooth wear and reduce muscular orofacial pain. The patient complained of frequent headaches and facial pain upon waking. After anamnesis, intraoral examination, and muscle palpation, the patient was diagnosed with morning headaches and muscular orofacial pain caused by nocturnal bruxism (parafunctional activity). The patient was treated with a stabilization splint for nocturnal use. One week after the insertion of the splint, the patient reported relief in morning headache, and after a month the symptoms had almost completely disappeared. The patient was instructed to keep using the splint to sleep in order to prevent tooth wear, even if the pain ceased completely. An appointment at 3 months post-insertion was scheduled for follow-up of signs and symptoms. Despite the lack of curative treatment for sleeping bruxism, the stabilization splint therapy is an important therapeutic option for pain control and prevention of tooth wear