Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep bruxism among adolescents in Brazil: A longitudinal study.

AIM

To evaluate the immediate and late impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of possible sleep bruxism (SB) among adolescents in Brazil.

DESIGN

This is a longitudinal study performed with adolescents (11-15 years old) from Southern Brazil. Baseline data were collected before the Brazilian COVID-19 outbreak (T1). Posteriorly, data were collected after 3 (T2) and 15 months under the Brazilian COVID-19 outbreak. The possible SB was evaluated by the question: 'Do you grind your teeth during your sleep?'. Sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical variables were also collected. Changes in SB were evaluated by multilevel logistic regression models for repeated measures.

RESULTS

Of the 290 adolescents assessed at T1, 182 were reassessed at both follow-ups. The prevalence of possible SB was 13% at T1, 11% at T2 and 22% at T3. There were no immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of possible SB (T2). Adolescents had odds 2.77 times greater of presented possible SB after 15 months (T3) of COVID-19 pandemic scenarios when compared to T1.

CONCLUSION

There was a considerable and late increase in the possible SB in adolescents in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic.