The course of pain intensity and frequency of adolescents treated because of temporomandibular disorders: A long-term follow-up

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Stress Levels and Occurrence of Stomatoghnatic System Disorders (SSDs) among Physiotherapy Students in Poland

Background: This study is a quantitative analysis examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of stress and stomatognathic system disorders (SSDs) among students of physiotherapy. Objective: To assess stress severity, strategies of coping with stress and the presence of type D personality among physiotherapy students including those with symptoms of stomatognathic system disorders. Material and Methods: The research was conducted from October to December 2020 on a sample of 188 students of physiotherapy. The data were collected using a survey form related to the occurrence of SS disorders symptoms and standardized psychological questionnaires, such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-10, Mini-Cope, and the type-D Scale (DS14), developed for the purpose of this study. Results: Women experiencing at least one of the SS disorder-related symptoms were characterized by a significantly higher level of stress and a type D personality (p < 0.05). Among men, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). On the basis of the strategies of coping with stress, i.e., positive self-reevaluation, discharging and blaming oneself, and taking psychoactive substances, it is possible to predict the intensity of stress during the pandemic in the group of the examined students. Among the reported symptoms of SS, headache was a significant predictor of stress, which was accompanied by an increase in the intensity of stress by nearly 0.2 measurement points. Students with higher levels of stress showed more symptoms of type D personality, and those with more severe symptoms of SS showed higher levels of stress. Conclusions: People prone to stress and having type D personality traits should be assessed for the presence of SS disorders.

The course of pain intensity and frequency of adolescents treated because of temporomandibular disorders: A long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the course of pain intensity and frequency related to temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) 15 years (range 5-21 years) after having received TMD treatment as adolescents due to frequent (at least once a week) TMD pain in two controlled trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the first trial, subjects (n = 122) were randomly allocated to either information only, received in a control condition (Co), or information and an occlusal appliance (OA) versus relaxation therapy (RT). In the second trial, including 64 subjects, nonresponders to OA or RT were subsequently allocated to the alternate treatment (ST). All study participants having completed the trials (n = 167) were invited to a long-term follow-up evaluations, with a response rate of 69.5% (n = 116). Patient-reported outcomes of TMD-related frequency and intensity were appraised relative to baseline data and short-term outcomes as observed in the two trials by use of general linear mixed model and generalized estimation equation statistics.

RESULTS

A significantly higher proportion of participants treated with OA and in the combined RT/Co condition than those in the ST group, reported a frequency level of TMD pain less than once week at post-treatment and the long-term follow-up. Adolescents treated with OA showed significantly lower TMD pain intensity levels post-treatment than those in the other two treatment conditions. While no difference between the OA and the RT/Co conditions was found in the long-term follow-up, participants in these two conditions were significantly more improved than those in the ST group.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents treated with an OA clearly showed better outcome with regard to intensity and frequency in a long-term follow-up of TMD pain than those treated with RT and ST for nonresponders. These latter individuals need special clinical attention and more effective supplementary treatment methods to be developed.