The Association between Dental Caries, Periodontal Status, and Sleep Patterns in Children.

Abstract

Aim and background: Sleep quality has a significant impact on children's overall health and is associated with oral diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dental caries, periodontal status, and sleep patterns in 8-12-year-old children.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 children aged 8-12 years. The children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) was employed to evaluate sleep status. Another questionnaire was used to collect data on lifestyle habits. Dental caries status was evaluated using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) indices. Periodontal status was assessed through the plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), gingival index (GI), and periodontal screening and recording (PSR). The association between oral health and sleep patterns was evaluated using Spearman's coefficient correlation, independent t-test, and the Chi-squared test.

Results: The ICDAS mean was significantly higher in children with improper sleep patterns (p = 0.032). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between DMFT and sleep patterns (p = 0.346). The GI, PD, and PSR mean were significantly higher in the inappropriate sleep pattern group. There was a significant relationship between children's sleep patterns and GI, PD, and PSR indices (p = 0.033, p = 0.020, p = 0.028, respectively). However, there was no significant association between PI and sleep patterns (p = 0.277).

Conclusion: Children's sleep patterns were associated with dental caries and periodontal status. Adequate sleep is required to prevent oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal diseases.

Clinical significance: According to this study, it is recommended that children should be encouraged to get adequate sleep by their parents and dentists.

How to cite this article: Mehdipour A, Abbasi R, Keykha E, et al. The Association between Dental Caries, Periodontal Status, and Sleep Patterns in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):925-932.