Allergic rhinitis and bruxism in children …..

CADERNO DE CLÍNICA / BÁSICA Artigo original / Original article Volume 3 – Número 10 – 2012 Página 217-220 Allergic rhinitis and bruxism in children – association and occurrence Rinite alérgica e bruxismo em crianças – associação e incidência Juliana Broch Héllen de Lacerda Oliveira Fabiana Vargas Ferreira Juliana Rodrigues Praetzel Fernanda Gomez Corrêa Abstract Purpose: The study assessed the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and bruxism, and the association between these variables from a sample of children ranging from 1 to 12 years of age in the city of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Study design: This was a retrospective study and data were analyzed from 465 records belonging to the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the Federal University of Santa Maria from January 1997 to December 2008. In a questionnaire applied to the children’s parents, questions about bruxism and allergic rhinitis occurrence were included. The chi-square test was used to assess data. Girls made up 51% of the sample and boys 49%. Results: The results showed a 53.1% allergic rhinitis occurrence and a 23.9% bruxism occurrence. Of the children showing bruxism, 63% also showed allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Therefore, the association between bruxism and allergic rhinitis was significant. It was concluded that bruxism-bearing children are likely to develop allergic rhinitis. Descriptors: Rhinitis, Bruxism, Child.