THE IMPACT OF STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE DENTAL HEALTH OF MU-VARNA EMPLOYEES

Introduction: One of the negative manifestations of stress and anxiety related to dental health is the unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth, which gradually leads to tooth wear. Aim: The aim of this article is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dental health of MU-Varna employees, to follow up on the therapeutic effect of wearing a bruxism mouthguard, and for the results to be applied in preparing a model for health promotion based on a multidisciplinary approach. Materials and Methods: From July 2022 to now, 995 patients have been examined, and 40 of them, university lecturers and administrative staff at MU-Varna, Bulgaria, have been prescribed a bruxism mouthguard. The following instruments were used: a unified form for defining the dental status and a survey about the therapeutic effect of the bruxism mouthguard. Results and Discussion: A voluntary, anonymous survey was conducted among MU-Varna employees in October 2023. The SPSS (version 22) software was used to process the data from the survey. The assessment of the therapeutic effect of the mouth guard was based on the results from the secondary exam at the clinician’s office and those from the conducted individual survey among the people wearing mouth guards for a specified period of time. Conclusion: The analysis indicates that the employees have a positive attitude toward wearing the mouthguard in the future. Its use helped decrease the frequency of conditions such as affect, anxiety, and quick tiredness.