Sleep disorders, behavioral aspects, general and oral health in children aged 6 to 10 years: structural equation modeling.

OBJECTIVES

To construct a structural model to identify the association between sleep disorders (SD), behavioral aspects, and general and oral health in children aged 6 to 10 years.

MATERIALS &

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with 516 schoolchildren aged 6 to 10 years and their parents/guardians. Data related to the child, socio-environmental factors, behavioral aspects, general health of the child, and sleep disorders of the child were collected. Through clinical dental examination, dental caries, dental trauma, and malocclusion were evaluated. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling, using Mplus version 8.6.

RESULTS

Children whose primary caregiver was not their mother or father, who studied full-time, who had extensive carious lesions and recent dental pain were more likely to have SD. Children who consumed sugary snacks and drinks more than twice a day had a higher prevalence of extensive dental caries.

CONCLUSIONS

Structural modeling indicated that the child's main caregiver, the period in which the child studies, and the presence of extensive carious lesions and dental pain were associated with SD.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Factors such as the primary caregiver, the period in which the child studies, the presence of extensive carious lesions, and dental pain were directly associated with childhood sleep disorders. These findings highlight the importance of integrated clinical strategies that consider both oral health and the family and educational contexts, aiming to promote healthy sleep in children through effective preventive interventions.