Association between anticonvulsant drugs and teeth-grinding in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Summary The relation between teeth‐grinding and the use of drugs acting on the central nervous system of cerebral palsy (CP) patients has not yet been described. The aim of this research was to evaluate the presence or absence of teeth‐grinding (sleep and/or awake periods) in normal and in CP children and adolescents, as well as the association of teeth‐grinding and use of anticonvulsant drugs. The sample consisted of 207 children and adolescents, divided into three groups: G1, individuals with CP who did not take anticonvulsant drugs; G2, individuals with CP administered medications on a regular basis; and CG, normal individuals. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of teeth‐grinding with some variables. No significant statistical differences were observed regarding the presence or absence of teeth‐grinding when G1 and G2 were compared. However, compared with the CG, a statistically significant difference was determined, with the CG showing fewer children presenting teeth‐grinding (P