Prevalence of Bruxism and Its Association With Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of bruxism in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to examine its associations with sleep disturbances, anxiety symptoms, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 140 children aged 3-12 years, comprising 70 children with ASD and 70 neurotypical peers, matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Bruxism diagnosis was based on parental reports and clinical examination. Validated instruments were used to assess sleep disturbances (Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children), anxiety symptoms (SCAS/Preschool SCAS), and OHRQoL (B-ECOHIS and COHIP-SF 19). Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests and estimation of prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Bruxism prevalence was higher in children with ASD (44.3%) compared to neurotypical children (15.7%) (PR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.54-5.6; p = 0.003) and was associated with poorer sleep quality across both groups. However, neurotypical children with bruxism, particularly among aged 6-12 years, exhibited worse socio-emotional well-being compared to children with ASD and bruxism (p = 0.011), children with ASD without bruxism (p = 0.039), and neurotypical children without bruxism (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Bruxism is more prevalent in children with ASD and is associated with poorer sleep quality. However, the psychosocial impact of bruxism on OHRQoL appears to be greater among neurotypical children.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bruxism is highly prevalent in children with ASD and is associated with poorer sleep quality. Early dental screening and tailored interventions are crucial for minimizing functional and psychosocial impairments in this population.