Possible sleep bruxism, smartphone addiction and sleep quality among Brazilian university students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of sleep bruxism activity with smartphone addiction and sleep quality among university students during COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey with 546 university students in social distancing was conducted (May 29th to June 2nd 2020). Participants should be undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Brazilian public/private universities. A self-completed questionnaire collected sociodemographic characteristics, academic information, and severity of possible sleep bruxism (PSB) activities (grinding, bracing, and thrusting). Students answered the Brazilian version of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI-BR) and short form of the smartphone addiction scale (SAS-SV). Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were performed (p=0.05). Results: Sample mean age was 24.9 (±5.5) years. Students with higher scores of PSQI-BR were more likely to present severe PSB-bracing (OR=1.154; 95%CI=1.057-1.260), severe PSB-grinding (OR=1.133; 95%CI=1.048-1.225) and severe PSB-thrusting (OR=1.197;95%CI=1.107-1.294). Students who had children presented 3 times more chance (OR=3.193; 95%CI=1.236-8.250) to report severe PSB-thrusting. Being female increased the chance of reporting moderate (OR=3.315; 95%CI=1.333-8.914) and severe (OR=2.940; 95%CI=1.116-7.747) PSB-thrusting. Students not enrolled in distance learning presented 2 times more chance (OR=2.638; 95%CI=1.233-5.649) of reporting moderate PSB-grinding. Students with higher scores in SAS-SV had a slight increase in the chance of presenting mild (OR=1.042; 95%CI=1.009-1.077) and moderate (OR=1.065; 95%CI=1.018-1.115) PSB-bracing, as well as mild (OR=1.044; 95%CI=1.011-1.078) and moderate (OR=1.041; 95%CI=1.005-1.077) PSB-thrusting. Conclusion: Smartphone addiction, worse sleep quality, having children, female sex and not being enrolled in distance learning were associated possible sleep bruxism during COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors associated with dentists' search for oral health information during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the factors associated with the search by Brazilian and Portuguese dentists for oral health information on social networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 597 Brazilian and Portuguese dentists answered an online questionnaire between January 17 and 31, 2021. Respondents were asked about sociodemographic data, weight and height, hours of sleep per night, screen time for work and leisure, and where they sought information about general and/or oral health for themselves and for their loved ones and information about COVID-19. Descriptive statistics and binary regression were used for the statistical analysis. Most participants were Brazilian (62.8%) and 451 (75.5%) were female. Mean age was 42.1 years (± 12.5 years). For every lost hour of sleep, the chances of participants frequently or always searching for information about self-perceived oral health problems on lay websites increased by 1.33 times. For every additional hour spent on social networks or on the Internet, the likelihood of participants frequently searching for self-perceived oral health problems on lay websites increased by 17% (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.06-1.30). Individuals who searched the Internet for information about COVID-19 symptoms before consulting their doctors were 3.85 times more likely (95% CI: 2.22-6.67) to frequently or always search for information about self-perceived oral health problems on lay websites. Dentists used lay websites to search for general and oral health knowledge during the COVID-19 pandemic, and shorter sleep duration favored screen use.

COVID-19: a new turning point for dental practice

Recent new zoonotic respiratory viruses have infected humans and led to severe acute respiratory syndrome: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), influenza A H5N1, influenza A H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The first SARS-CoV outbreak took place in 2003, in Guangdong, China. A decade later, another pathogenic coronavirus, MERS-CoV caused an endemic in Middle Eastern countries. The latest pandemic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) has been related to the newly isolated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For the first time since the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 1980s. Dentistry is facing a new turning point. This critical review aims to discuss the impact of COVID-19 infection on oral health care. In dental practice COVID-19 patients are the main source of infection and symptomatic patients are more contagious. Dentists can be first line of diagnosis of the disease, as they work in close contact with patients and are at the risk of being affected by COVID-19 and all respiratory infections. Several guidelines for dental practice environments have been published by dental associations and regulatory boards. It is already evident that biological, psychological and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have present and future impacts on dental practice. Dental schools, regulatory boards, scientific associations, government authorities, and public and private health care services must join efforts to design enduring answers for severe and long-standing viral challenges.

Can children's oral hygiene and sleep routines be compromised during the COVID-19 pandemic?

BACKGROUND: During COVID-19 pandemic, children are confined at home, with changes in family routines. AIM: Evaluate sleep disorders among Brazilian and Portuguese children during social distancing, and its association with parental perception of child's oral hygiene. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, Portuguese and Brazilian parents/caregivers of 3- to 15-year-old children, practicing social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic, answered an online questionnaire, from April 24-26, 2020, evaluating sociodemographic characteristics, child's school activities online, child's sleep quality during social distancing. Two questions from the questionnaire, developed based on previous studies, evaluated the parental perception of child's oral hygiene quality and routine changes during social distancing. Parents/caregivers answered five domains of the Portuguese-language version of the Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children, evaluating sleep-breathing disorders, disorders of arousal, sleep-wake transition disorders, disorders of excessive somnolence and sleep hyperhidrosis. Descriptive, Linear-by-linear association, Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc analysis were performed (P ≤ .05). RESULTS: Participated in the study 253 parents/caregivers, 50.2% from Brazil. Most parents (72.2%) reported changes in child's routine during social distancing. Sleep breathing disorders (P = .019), sleep-wake transition disorders (P = .022), and disorders of excessive somnolence (P < .001) were associated with poor oral hygiene during social distancing. CONCLUSION: Sleep disorders are associated with poor oral hygiene during social distancing.

COVID-19: a new turning point for dental practice.

Recent new zoonotic respiratory viruses have infected humans and led to severe acute respiratory syndrome: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), influenza A H5N1, influenza A H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The first SARS-CoV outbreak took place in 2003, in Guangdong, China. A decade later, another pathogenic coronavirus, MERS-CoV caused an endemic in Middle Eastern countries. The latest pandemic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) has been related to the newly isolated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For the first time since the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 1980s. Dentistry is facing a new turning point. This critical review aims to discuss the impact of COVID-19 infection on oral health care. In dental practice COVID-19 patients are the main source of infection and symptomatic patients are more contagious. Dentists can be first line of diagnosis of the disease, as they work in close contact with patients and are at the risk of being affected by COVID-19 and all respiratory infections. Several guidelines for dental practice environments have been published by dental associations and regulatory boards. It is already evident that biological, psychological and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have present and future impacts on dental practice. Dental schools, regulatory boards, scientific associations, government authorities, and public and private health care services must join efforts to design enduring answers for severe and long-standing viral challenges.