Introduction:
This study aimed to investigate sleep and awake bruxism habit experienced by people who quarantined different places during the COVID-19 pandemic in the TRNC.
Material and Methods
A 25-question self-reported questionnaire was sent to the patients' mobile phones to measure their demographic information, the level of bruxism habits which they experienced before and during their quarantine period while sleeping and awake, and asked to answer. The answers were evaluated statistically by percentage and chi-square test.
Results
241 people participated in our research. During the quarantine period, there was an increase in awake bruxism and a slight decrease in sleep bruxism. While the feelings worried, scared, panic and hopelessness felt by the participants in the first days of the quarantine decreased in the last days of the quarantine but calm was increased regardless of the place and length of stay in the quarantine. Teeth clenching, teeth grinding and earache were mostly seen in those who stayed in dormitory quarantine.
Conclusion
People's anxiety is increasing in the COVID-19 pandemic and there is a positive correlation between anxiety and both sleep and awake bruxism. Dentists should pay more attention to the signs of bruxism during the examination, especially from people who say that they are in quarantine during the anamnesis. Although the reason for the patient's visit to the doctor may seem like just a simple toothache, the underlying factors such as clenching should not be forgotten with a holistic approach and awareness should be created for the patient.
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