Evaluation of Screen Time, Oral Health Status, and Sleep Disturbances in Children between 6 and 13 years: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Sleep is a critical component required for the growth and development of a child. Deviation from the normal sleep pattern, quality, and quantity directly affects the baseline functioning of the individual. Increased screen time exposure affects the overall well-being of the child, particularly the sleep and oral health. Aim: To assess the average screen time exposure, oral health status, and prevalence of sleep disorders in children between 6 and 13 years of age. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 370 children visiting the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry between July 2024 and January 2025. Data were collected using a validated screen time questionnaire and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Dental caries was assessed using the ICDAS II index. The descriptive statistics were reported in the form of mean and standard deviation. ANOVA, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was noted when the Results: A majority of children (60.3%) had 1-2 hours of screen time on weekdays, while 56.5% reported 2-3 hours on weekends. About 98.6% used screens during mealtimes, and 92.7% used screen devices within an hour before sleep. A statistically significant association was observed between screen usage during mealtimes and increased prevalence of both cavitated ( Conclusion: Prolonged screen time, especially during meals and 1 hour before bedtime, was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries in children. Despite the presence of excessive screen exposure, the incidence of clinically significant sleep disturbances remained relatively low. The findings of this study emphasize the need to monitor and moderate screen usage in children to improve overall and oral health outcomes in children.