Summary
Bruxism corresponds to a parafunctional activity of dental tightening due to the action of masticatory muscles. Within the etiological factors of bruxism, there are emotional states such as anxiety, depression and stress situations, among others. Dental students, especially those who are in their clinical cycle, are subjected to high demand situations that generate states of depression, stress and anxiety. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress and bruxism in 4th and 5th year of dentistry students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Through the use of questionnaires and clinical examinations, using the questionnaire of the American Association of Sleep Medicine and the Depression-Anxiety and Stress Scale (DAS-21), it was determined that 62 % of the students presented bruxism, with predominance in women. All of the students that presented bruxism, manifested levels of depression, anxiety and stress. These numbers are important to consider as a warning signal and to generate preventive and therapeutic measures that contribute to the reduction of bruxism and associated psychological disorders.
KEY WORDS: bruxism, students, dentistry, stress.
How to cite this article
VON BISCHHOFFSHAUSEN, P. K.; WALLEM, H. A.; ALLENDES, A. A. & DÍAZ, M. R. Bruxism and Stress Prevalence in Dentistry Students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Int. J. Odontostomat., 13(1):97-102, 2019.
