Investigation of the Sleep-Awake Bruxism Habit Experienced by People Who Quarantined Different Places During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the sleep and awake bruxism habits experienced by people who were quarantined in different places during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the North Cyprus. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A 25-question self-reported questionnaire was sent to the patients' mobile phones to measure their demographic information and the level of bruxism they experienced before and during their quarantine period while sleeping and awake.The answers were evaluated statistically using percentage and chi-square tests. RESULTS:A total of 241 people participated in our research.During the quarantine period, there was an increase in awake bruxism and a slight decrease in sleep bruxism.The feelings of worry, fear, panic, and hopelessness felt by the participants in the first days of the quarantine decreased in the last days of the quarantine, regardless of place and length of stay in the quarantine.Teeth clenching, teeth grinding, and earache were mostly observed in those who stayed in dormitory quarantine. CONCLUSION:People's anxiety is increasing during 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 examinations, especially in people who say that they are in quarantine during anamnesis.Although the reason for a patient's visit to the doctor may seem like a simple toothache, underlying factors, such as clenching, should not be forgotten with a holistic approach, and awareness should be created for the patient.