Abstract
(1) Background: Bruxism, a condition characterized by grinding and involuntary clenching of the teeth, is a risk factor for the development of masticatory dysfunction. It can occur together with sleep disturbances and may be associated with abnormal body movements, breathing difficulties, increased muscle activity, and heart rate disturbances. This disorder is becoming an important dental concern in children. (2) Methods: A literature review was carried out based on a search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases for articles on bruxism in children, published between 2014 and 2021. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of bruxism in children were of particular interest in the study. (3) Results: A total of 40 articles were included in the review. The analyzed studies indicated that the prevalence rates of bruxism in children vary widely from 13% to 49%. The etiology of bruxism is complex and incomprehensible, and the main diagnostic criteria for this condition in children are subjective observation, clinical history, and clinical examination. The recommended therapy for sleep bruxism in children is physiotherapy and psychotherapy. (4) Conclusions: Dentists and primary care physicians should correctly diagnose bruxism in children, educate parents, prevent potential consequences for oral health, and identify possible comorbidities. Appropriate clinical guidelines for the treatment and prophylaxis of bruxism in children should also be developed.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
A literature review was performed based on a search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases for articles on sleep bruxism (SB) in children and its causes, diagnosis, and treatment
A total of 172 articles were found in the PubMed database and 11,700 in the Google Scholar database
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Bruxism is a repetitive masticatory muscle activity [1], which is a risk factor for several serious health complications. This condition was described for the first time in the medical literature in 1907 by Maria Pietkiewicz [2]. It is characterized by clenching, tooth grinding, and/or bracing or thrusting of the mandible with circadian symptoms (such as facial tightness, head and neck pain, and insomnia) [3]. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has indicated bruxism as a sleep-related movement disorder [4]
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