Evaluation of the association between self-reported sleep bruxism and chronotype and sleep quality among dental students

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Sleep bruxism (BS) is defined as involuntary jaw movements characterized by grinding and clenching teeth. Objective To verify the association between chronotype, sleep quality, and self-reporting of BS in dental students. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted with 214 undergraduate dental students at a public university in northeast Brazil. The participants answered the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire for the identification of chronotype and another questionnaire regarding daily aspects to collect information about sleep quality, self-reported sleep bruxism, the use of sleeping pills, snoring, concentration during daily activities and energy upon waking. Results The prevalence of self-reported sleep bruxism was 11.0%. In the final model, the eveningness chronotype (OR = 23.00; 95% CI: 2.36-223.84, p = 0.007), habitual snoring (OR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.31-7.39, p = 0.01) and low energy upon waking in the morning (OR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.96-5.58, p = 0.040) were associated with self-reported sleep bruxism. Conclusion The evening chronotype, presence of snoring, and low energy when waking up in the morning influenced self-reporting of sleep bruxism among undergraduate dental students.

Keywords

• chronobiology
• chronotype
• biological rhythm
• sleep
• bruxism