221 - Are Headaches Associated with Bruxism in Children?

Purpose: This study aims to investigate risk factors associated with primary headaches among pediatrics patients with bruxism by employing a comprehensive approach that incorporates headache questionnaires, clinical examinations, and radiographic assessments. 

Methods:

A cross-sectional study of pediatric patients with bruxism ages 6 to 15 presenting to a NYC dental clinic in 2024. Bruxism was determined by radiographs and patient and parent self-report. The Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire was administered to assess headache-related functionality loss. Age, gender, race, parents’ marital status, and parental history of headaches were collected. Parental history of headaches was assessed by asking parents/caregivers if they experience headaches. Patients rated their stress levels on a 1-5 scale by pointing to emotional faces.

Results

The sample was racially/ethnically diverse and consisted of 21 patients ages 4 to 11 (M = 7.09, SD = 1.72). The majority rated their headache severity as Little to None (n = 17, 77.27%). The rate of headaches was 33.33% among ages 7 to 10, and only 10% among the remainder of the sample, but the difference was not significant (p = .188). There were no significant differences in headaches rates by gender (p = .309), race/ethnicity (p = .810), parental marital status (p = .421), family history (p = .338), awake bruxism (p = .905), or patient stress (p = .990). 

Conclusion: We found limited influences of a range of risk factors on headaches in the context of pediatric bruxism. Future longitudinal research are needed to understand contributors to headaches in these patients. 

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