Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on psychological aspects and bruxism in the Brazilian population: observational study

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological aspects and its relationship with bruxism from a representative sample of the Brazilian population. METHODS: A cross-sectional Internet-based survey was conducted in a nationally representative sample of Brazilian adults to estimate the sociodemographic correlates and characteristics of bruxism, the quality of life of individuals World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) in the Brazilian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research was collected from May to August 2020. The data were analyzed using qualitative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1476 Survey forms were completed, and 1265 (85.70%) respondents declared presenting daytime clenching; over half of respondents (843, 57.11%) reported that they have grinding of teeth; and 1054 (71.41%) reported both clenching and grinding of teeth. Most of the respondents (1128, 76.42%) reported a negative perception of oral symptoms on the last month and all (1476, 100.00%) were feeling nervous or stressed during the period of social withdrawal induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, 289 (19.58%) started having symptoms of fatigue or pain in the muscles of the face upon awakening and 318 (21.54%) started having muscle fatigue and discomfort in the teeth upon awakening. CONCLUSION: Findings have shown that all respondents were feeling nervous or stressed during the period of social withdrawal induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and reported bruxism symptoms. They also had lower averages of WHOQOL and SCS, suggesting worse perception of quality of life and self-compassion.