Prevalence of Oral Parafunctional Habits in Children and Related Factors: An Observational Cross-sectional Study

AIM: Parafunctional habits cause movements indicating their effect as functional and structural disorders such as malocclusion and temporomandibular joint changes in the oral and dental organs. This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with parafunctional habits in 6–12-year-old children in Qom, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 403 6–12-year-old schoolchildren of Qom, Iran. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and a checklist prepared along with a clinical examination. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), with chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. RESULTS: The mean age of children was 8.9 ± 2.03 years. Bruxism was more common than other parafunctional habits (22.6%). There was a significant relationship between oral habits with children's gender and age (p <0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between oral habits and other variables such as underlying disease, economic status and parent's smoking (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Given the relatively high prevalence of parafunctional habits in children, it seems that children should be investigated for the presence of such habits in order to provide the necessary education to parents and perform dental interventions to prevent complications from oral habits. Dental interventions at a younger age are easier to conduct and have a more effective preventive role. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Mehdipour A, Aghaali M, Janatifar Z, et al. Prevalence of Oral Parafunctional Habits in Children and Related Factors: an Observational Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):308-311.