Craniocervical posture and bruxism in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate, using photogrammetry, the relationship between head posture and bruxism in children with complete deciduous dentition.


METHODS
Forty-two children aged between 3 and 6 years, with complete deciduous dentition, participated in the study. Twenty-one children diagnosed with bruxism according to the diagnostic criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine were selected for the bruxism group, and 21 children without bruxism were selected for the control group. Markers were placed on three anatomical landmarks (spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, manubrium of the sternum and mental protuberance) and photographic measurements were made to evaluate head posture. Angles between markers were determined using the ALCimagem® software for quantitative image analysis. The Student's t-test was used at a significance level of 0.05 for the comparison of head posture (mean cervical angle) between the bruxism and control groups.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference (p < 0.005) in the mean cervical angle between the control (89.58° ± 8.03°) and bruxism (98.99° ± 8.15°) groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, children with bruxism showed greater alterations in head posture than controls.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), SP, Brazil. larajmotta@terra.com.br
Lara Jansiski
LJ
Motta
Manoela Domingues
MD
Martins
Kristianne Porta Santos
KP
Fernandes
Raquel Agnelli
RA
Mesquita-Ferrari
Daniela Aparecida
DA
Biasotto-Gonzalez
Sandra Kalil
SK
Bussadori
D002012:Bruxism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous