Prevalence of sleep bruxism and associated factors in preschool children.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sleep bruxism and associated factors in three- to five-year-olds.

METHODS

A representative cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 749 preschool children during immunization campaigns. Data acquisition involved an oral clinical exam, anthropometric measures, and a questionnaire administered in interview form. All data were analyzed using the chi-square test and Poisson regression with robust variance with the aid of SPSS software.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sleep bruxism among preschool children was approximately 14 percent. Statistically significant associations were found: between sleep bruxism and lower dental crowding (prevalence ratio=3.38; 95% confidence interval=1.9-5.7); for the habit of biting on objects (PR=2.49; 95% CI=1.4-4.4); for duration of breast-feeding for a period longer than 12 months (PR=1.98; 95% CI=1.2-3.2); and for bottle-feeding for more than 24 months (PR=1.93; 95% CI=1.2-3.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower arch crowding, the habit of biting on objects, and prolonged breast-feeding and bottle-feeding were associated with sleep bruxism in the preschool children analyzed in the present study.