Epidemiological studies have reported a wide range of incidence of bruxism in children (5% to 81%), which makes difficult the establishment of comparative parameters. The aim of this study was to record the prevalence of nocturnal bruxism (NB) and its features in two hundred and thirteen 2-11-year-old children. Interviews were performed with 130children receiving dental treatment at a school of dentistry (FOP-UNICAMP) and 83 children attended at private dental offices. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the children's parents/relatives and dentist. Data were analyzed by test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Prevalence of NB was 28.64% (n=61). Difference between frequencies of bruxers and non-bruxers was not significant concerning the place of dental treatment (p>0.05). In relation to dentition, 39.34% of the children with primary teeth and 24.34% with mixed dentition were bruxers (p<0.05). Among the bruxers (n=61), 27.87% were anxious and 31.15% were hyperactive children. Fifty-one per cent of the bruxers had respiratory problems and/or allergy. High prevalence of NB was recorded for 2-5-year-old and 10-11-year-old children.
Bruxism; Temporomandibular disorders; Pediatric dentistry
