Social, emotional, and behavioral problems and parent-reported sleep bruxism in schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: A number of theories associate emotional factors with the triggering of sleep bruxism (SB). Few studies have used validated instruments to assess psychological characteristics and SB in children. In this study, the authors aimed to assess the prevalence of parent-reported SB in children and its association with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study with a school-based sample at 20 public schools in Brazil. Parents or caregivers provided information related to tooth-grinding sounds during sleep and about children's social, emotional, and behavioral problems by using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Analyses were carried out considering each subscale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the total score. The authors estimated prevalence ratios by using a Poisson regression model. Statistical inferences were based on 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 556 children aged 8 years were included. Prevalence of SB was 30.83%. Results of an adjusted analysis showed a significant association of SB with higher scores on total difficulties (overall score) (P < .001) and emotional symptoms (P < .001) and peer relationship problems (P = .010) subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Parental reports of emotional and behavioral problems were associated with a higher prevalence of SB in schoolchildren. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study's results contribute to those of previous investigations about the association between psychological characteristics and SB. Interdisciplinary research involving dentistry and psychology may improve the understanding of bruxism.

Association of Dental Anxiety with Psychosocial Characteristics among Children Aged 7-13 Years

Abstract Objective: To identify psychosocial characteristics associated with dental anxiety in children aged 7-13 years in the dental setting. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with children aged 7-13 years attended at the Dentistry School of Pelotas, Brazil. Data collection was based on a questionnaire administered to mothers and children, and the behavior of children during dental treatment was evaluated using the Frankl' Scale. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests in order to analyze the association between independent variables and dental anxiety. The effect of variables on the outcome was assessed by the Poisson regression model with robust variance (Prevalence Ratio; 95% Confidence interval). Results: A total of 187 children were included. Dental anxiety prevalence was 40.11%. After adjustments, younger children (p=0.046), only child (p=0.019), and children with negative previous dental experience (p=0.046) showed higher dental anxiety prevalence. Children with uncooperative behavior in previous (p=0.033) and current (p≤0.001) dental appointments showed higher dental anxiety prevalence. Conclusion: In this sample of children treated at a dentistry school, a report of dental anxiety was associated with age, birth order, previous dental experience and behavior in dental settings.

Salivary cortisol levels and biological rhythm in schoolchildren with sleep bruxism.

OBJECTIVE: Salivary cortisol levels and biological rhythms could be hypothesized as part of the multifactorial framework that explains bruxism etiology. The objective of this study was to examine salivary cortisol levels and biological rhythms in schoolchildren with sleep bruxism (SB). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a school-based sample. The Biological Rhythms Interview for Assessment in Neuropsychiatry for Kids (BRIAN-K) was used to evaluate biological rhythms. Salivary samples were collected by the spitting method. The salivary cortisol level was measured by electrochemiluminescence. The criteria proposed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) were used to evaluate SB. RESULTS: The SB prevalence was 16%. The SB presence was associated with belonging to families of lower economic status (p = 0.003). In addition, children with SB showed greater difficulty in maintaining biological rhythm (p = 0.002) and had higher levels of salivary cortisol (p = 0.034) compared with children without SB. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of cortisol and disruption of biological rhythm was associated with SB in schoolchildren.

Does dental trauma in the primary dentition increases the likelihood of trauma in the permanent dentition? A longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the likelihood of children suffering traumatic dental injuries in the permanent dentition subsequent to traumatic dental injuries in their primary dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted in Pelotas, Brazil. Children were assessed in 2007, when they were aged 2-5 years, and in 2013, at which time, they were aged 8-11 years. Data collection included interviews with parents and clinical oral examination for dental trauma and occlusion. The classification proposed by Andreasen and Andreasen was used, and crown discoloration and fistula were added to this criterion in order to assess pulp involvement. Child/parent report was used to aid in the diagnosis of both treated and untreated injuries. As a limitation, no radiographs were taken. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 110 children were included. Dental trauma frequency in the primary dentition was 38.2% and that in the permanent dentition was 30.9%. In the multivariate analyses, children with dental trauma in the primary dentition showed a higher likelihood of suffering dental trauma in the permanent dentition [odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-8.91, P = 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous trauma in the primary dentition are prone to further trauma in the permanent dentition. The history of dental trauma may be used to predict dental trauma in the permanent dentition and to establish preventive measures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Behavioral characteristics may be related to the risk of a child suffering injuries. The results suggested that some children are accident-prone.

Validation of the digital photographic assessment to diagnose traumatic dental injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Alternatives for monitoring dental trauma in epidemiological surveys may be useful, as data collection of epidemiological investigation can be jeopardized due to several conditions. AIM: To investigate the validity of standard digital photographs to determine the occurrence of anterior dental trauma compared to the clinical examination in an epidemiological survey. METHODS: Participants were children aged 8-12 years old attending both private and public schools; children were clinically evaluated for the assessment of dental trauma, and standard photographs were taken from maxillary and mandibular permanent incisors of each child. Validity was determined by calculating the percentages and respective 95% confidence interval of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Cohen's kappa statistic was also used. RESULTS: A total of 412 children were included, totaling 3296 teeth assessed for dental trauma presence. The prevalence of dental trauma was 11.2% (95% CI 8.29-14.61) and 10.2% (95% CI 7.45-13.53), respectively, for the clinical examination and the photographic method. Agreement between the gold standard and the photographic diagnosis was good: 0.64 for the prevalence of dental trauma and 0.66 for diagnosis of dental trauma on a tooth basis. The diagnosis through the photographic method had higher specificity (96.7%) than sensitivity (65.2%). High positive likelihood ratio and low negative likelihood ratio were also observed. CONCLUSION: The photographic assessment method of dental trauma was valid and reliable as compared to the oral clinical examination.