PURPOSE:
the aim of the present study was to determine whether bruxism is associated with joint sounds in children.
METHODS:
children aged six to nine years were recruited from the pediatric clinic of the School of Dentistry of University Nove de Julho (Brazil). Twenty-one children with bruxism and 27 children without this condition (control group) were selected. The evaluation was performed by a previously trained examiner who was blinded to the allocation of the groups and involved manual palpation as well as lateral and dorsal extra-auricular auscultation of the temporomandibular joints with the aid of a stethoscope for the determination of joint sounds, differentiating a click/pop from crepitus. At least three readings were performed on each child. Descriptive statistics were conducted and the chi-square test was used to test associations among the variables, with the level of significance set to 5% (p < 0.05).
RESULTS:
a total of 37.5% (n = 18) of the sample exhibited some type of joint sound. Among these children, 72.2% (n = 13) exhibited a click/pop and 27.8% (n = 5) exhibited crepitus. Among the 18 children with joint sounds, 66.7% (n = 12) also had bruxism. A statistically significant association was found between joint sounds and bruxism. No association was found between joints sounds and sex. However, a significant association was found with regard to age, as a greater percentage of children at six years of age had no joint sounds.
CONCLUSION:
the present findings demonstrate an association between bruxism and joint sounds in children.
Bruxism; Temporomandibular Joint; Child; Sound
