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

Abstract

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.