Prevalence of Bruxism and Associated Correlates in Children as Reported by Parents

Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Lutheran Medical Center

Resident’s Name: Derek Banks Date: April 24, 2009
Article title: Prevalence of Bruxism and Associated Correlates in Children as Reported by Parents
Author(s): A Cheifetz, S Osganian, E Allred, H Needleman
Journal: Journal of Dentistry for Children
Volume (number): 72:2
Month, Year: 2005
Major topic: Oral Habits
Minor topic(s): Amalgam in Pediatric Dentistry
Type of Article: Bruxism
Main Purpose: Evaluate reported prevalence of nocturnal bruxism, and demographic correlations
Overview of method of research: 854 surveys were given to parents of patients at 4 private pediatric dental offices and at Children’s Hospital Boston Dental Clinic about nocturnal bruxism, demographic information, and questions about purported associated factors.
Findings: Due to differing methodologies in different studies (e.g. parent/patient report vs. observation of wear facets intraorally), the precise prevalence of bruxism is not known. Other studies have shown that bruxers respond more negatively to life events and tend to be more anxious, aggressive, and hyperactive. Bruxism was reported to commence at a mean age of 3.6 years and ceased at a mean age of 6 years. Only 5% of the study population reported subjective TMD symptoms such as jaw clicking, muscle tenderness, pain on opening, or limited opening. There was a statistically significant association between the child’s bruxism habit and parental bruxism (P<0.0005). 48% of children reported to be bruxers had at least one parent who also had a history of bruxism, which was true for only 32% of reported nonbruxers. Naturally, bruxism was reported more often in families who sleep with the doors open. Children with psychological disorders are 3.6 times more likely to brux. Droolers were 1.7 times more likely and sleeptalkers 1.6 times more likely to brux. Children with oral habits (e.g. thumb, pacifier) were less likely to brux than their non-habit-posessing counterparts.
Key points/Summary : Of the 38% of parents reporting that their children brux, the following factors were significantly associated with the reported bruxism: familial history, open bedroom doors, drooling, sleeptalking, and psychological disorders
Assessment of article: Interesting.