Aims: To evaluate the association between sleep bruxism (SB) and quality of life (QoL) in the general population.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted, and studies were included with no restrictions regarding age, gender, or language. SB and general health-related QoL and/or oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) measures in the included studies needed to be based on validated tools. The databases searched were Google Scholar, LILACS, OpenGrey, ProQuest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) criteria.
Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies were published in English, and four in Portuguese. All studies evaluating the association of SB with health-related QoL showed no statistical significance when overall scores were considered. The overall quality of evidence was considered very low due to high heterogeneity among the studies. SB seemed not to be associated with health-related QoL, but did have a negative impact on some characteristics of OHRQoL.
Conclusion: There is insufficient scientific evidence to support or disprove the association between SB and QoL/OHRQoL in the general population.