Bruxism, stress and anxiety in young people

Introduction. The bruxism is the act of clenching and/or grinding the teeth, a habit that compromises the orofacial region. It is often associated with emotional aspects, such as anxiety and stress, and can lead to alterations in orofacial structures, functional modifications and social repercussions. (1). The etiology of bruxism is unclear, but the condition has been associated with stress, occlusal disorders, allergies and sleep positioning. (2). Objective. To determine the relationship between bruxism, stress and anxiety in university students of the Universidad Veracruzana. Methodology. We conducted a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study in students of the Faculty of Engineering. Evaluation instruments were applied to measure anxiety, stress and the presence of bruxism, as well as the clinical examination that allowed to diagnose the presence of manifestations of bruxism. Contribution. Comparing the level of stress and anxiety of the individuals who presented dental damage and those who did not present it, no significant differences were found between the two groups, which confirms the uncertain etiology of this pathology. However, it is essential to note that the study was carried out in university students and that at an early age, they present important manifestations of bruxism.