Prevalence of Bruxism in a Mixed Paediatric and Adult Population With Cognitive Impairment: A Large Cross‐Sectional Study

This study aimed to assess the association between bruxism and cognitive impairment as well as the association between bruxism and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) risk in a mixed paediatric and adult population with cognitive impairment and the prevalence of malocclusion in this population. A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 400 patients (200 with cognitive impairment and 200 age‐ and sex‐matched controls) attending the Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Unit of the Policlinico Gemelli–Italy. Clinical examination was performed to assess signs of bruxism and prevalence of malocclusions; questionnaires were used to collect information on bruxism and OSA risk. Patients with cognitive impairment showed a significantly higher prevalence of both sleep bruxism (SB) (20.5% vs. 13.0%; p = 0.044) and awake bruxism (AB) (13.0% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.0001). Among paediatric patients with cognitive impairment, high OSA risk was significantly associated with SB (OR = 3.5; p = 0.008). In addition, malocclusions were significantly more frequent in patients with cognitive impairment. Overall, bruxism is associated with cognitive impairment, despite distinct patterns being observed between SB and AB. Due to the association between OSA risk and SB specifically in the paediatric subgroup and to the high prevalence of malocclusions in patients with cognitive impairment, a multidisciplinary approach is suggested in this population.