Indicadores para diagnóstico do bruxismo do sono infantil: revisão de literatura

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Bruxism is a parafunctional activity that consists of involuntarily clenching or grinding teeth repeatedly, which can occur during the day or night also being considered multifactorial. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this literature review is to present the indicators for the diagnosis of sleep bruxism in children across different age groups. METHODOLOGY: Searches were conducted on the electronic database platform PubMed/Medline using the mesh terms "bruxism," "sleep bruxism," and "diagnosis." Studies involving children aged 0 to 18 years, published between 2014 and 2024, that addressed sleep bruxism in children and its potential indicators were included. RESULTS: Complementary exams such as salivary cortisol, polysomnography, and electromyography do not seem to be reliable parameters for diagnosing pediatric sleep bruxism (PSB), differing from the findings related to the ultrasound examination. Parasomnias such as nightmares and snoring, in the same way as respiratory disturbances, seem to be stronger associated with PSB. Regarding psychological and emotional parameters and parental reports, stress appears to be more indicative of PSB than anxiety, and parental reports cannot be considered a reliable indicator for diagnosting PSB. CONCLUSIONS: Parasomnias such as nightmares and snoring, as well as ultrasonography evaluating the masseter muscle thickness, may serve as potential indicators for the diagnosis of sleep bruxism in children.