Dentists’ knowledge, attitudes, and clinical approaches to bruxism-related activities potentially associated with antidepressant use

OBJECTIVE: To assess dentists' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and approaches to bruxism-related activities potentially associated with antidepressant use in Türkiye. METHODS: This online survey included 253 dentists. Knowledge counted correct responses to five researcher-developed, nonvalidated items (0-5). Ordinal regression included a partial proportional-odds model where needed; Holm correction addressed prespecified comparisons. RESULTS: In the past year, 41.1% definitely encountered a patient taking antidepressants with bruxism-related symptoms, while 32.8% were unsure. Mean score was 3.08 ± 1.47/5; 29.4% recognized potential associations with both SSRIs and SNRIs. Previous training was independently associated with higher knowledge and self-efficacy. Knowledge and training were independently associated with more frequent medication-history assessment. Specialty and experience were not independently associated with knowledge. Detailed medication history was the most common initial approach (32.4%). CONCLUSION: Knowledge varied, particularly regarding SSRI/SNRI involvement. Education should emphasize behavior-specific terminology, medication-history assessment, clinical reasoning, and interdisciplinary communication. Cross-sectional self-reports preclude causal inference.