Temporomandibular Disorders in a Sample Population of the Brazilian Northeast

What has a year of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced oral parafunctional habits and temporomandibular disorders? A case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Few studies investigated the influence of oral parafunctional habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since some studies have demonstrated that signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), as well as psychological alterations, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the aim of this study was to investigate whether social isolation is a situation that increases the prevalence of oral parafunctional habits.

METHODS

This was an observational case-control study. An online survey with questions about TMD symptoms (Diagnostic Criteria Symptom Questionnaire) and oral parafunctional habits (Oral Behaviours Checklist [OBC]) was administered to Brazilian residents at two different times (2020 and 2021). The participants were divided according to social isolation practices into study groups (GI: 2020, n = 507; GIII: 2021, n = 282) and control groups (GII: 2020, n = 98; GIV: 2021, n = 202).

RESULT

In each group, we evaluated the association of the frequency of oral parafunctional habits with the symptoms of TMD, and we observed that individuals with a greater presence of painful TMD present a greater number of oral parafunctional habits. Despite the literature showing that individuals who practiced social isolation developed more oral parafunctional habits, when analysing the association of the OBC questions in Groups GI × GII and GIII × GIV, only 'sustained talking' (p = .0022) and 'hold telephone between your hand and shoulders' (p = .0124) showed a significant difference in GI × GII. Kendall's coefficient of concordance revealed that there was a very strong concordance (GI × GII 0.9515 (p = .0087) and GIII × GIV 0.9655 (p = .0074)) between the ranks of the analysed oral parafunctional habits in all groups.

CONCLUSION

We can state that Individuals who practiced social isolation did not present more oral parafunctional habits than individuals who did not.

Predictive model for temporomandibular disorder in adolescents: Decision tree

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) do not only occur in adults but also in adolescents, with negative impacts on their development.

AIM

To propose a predictive model for TMD in adolescents using a decision tree (DT) analysis and to identify groups at high and low risk of developing TMD in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Recife on 1342 schoolchildren of both sexes aged 10-17 years. The analyses were performed using Pearson's chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test, as well as the CHAID algorithm for the construction of the DT. The SPSS statistical program was used.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TMD was 33.2%. Statistically significant associations were observed between TMD and sex, depression, self-reported orofacial pain, and orofacial pain on clinical examination. The DT consisted of self-reported orofacial pain, orofacial pain on physical examination, and depression, with an overall predictive power of 73.0%.

CONCLUSION

The proposed tree has a good predictive capacity and permits to identify groups at high risk of developing TMD among adolescents, such as those with self-reported orofacial pain or orofacial pain on examination associated with depression.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in the Brazilian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review aimed to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in the Brazilian population, with studies that used the RDC/TMD or DC/TMD as diagnostic tools. A total of 6365 people from 11 studies were included. Sample mean age ranged from 12 to 69.5 years. The pooled prevalence of TMD was 33.6% (95% CI 31.5-35.8; I2 = 37.2). Prevalence of TMD was higher in females (37.0%) than in males (29.3%). Our results indicate that TMD is a prevalent condition across Brazil's territories. The results from this meta-analysis can help calculate more accurate sample sizes for future studies.

The Efficacy of Ozonized Water Versus Ringer Lactate Arthrocentesis for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Internal Derangement

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorders are musculoskeletal conditions characterized by facial pain and impaired temporomandibular joint function, limited mouth opening, joint and muscular pain, and noises during mandibular movements are some of the most common symptoms. The most frequent cause of temporomandibular joint dysfunction is internal derangement (ID), which refers to an alteration in the normal pathways of motion of the joint that largely involves the function of the articular disc, therefore, these alterations have been also referred to as disc derangement. Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive technique, less expensive than surgical treatment. Adhesions are released after arthrocentesis of the upper joint space under sufficient hydraulic pressure. Intra-articular ozone gas injection is used as conservative treatment modalities for ID of the temporomandibular as it possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects, enhancement the host defense mechanism and accelerates the healing process of the damaged cells.

AIM

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ozonized water against lactated ringer solution in the arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients were used in this study, suffered from ID of the temporomandibular joint treated by arthrocentesis under hydraulic pressure and were allocated into 2 groups; the study group (A), which included 30 patients, managed by arthrocentesis utilizing ozonized water and the control group (B) with 30 patients also treated by the same procedure using ringer lactate solution. Visual analog scale pain scores, temporomandibular joint sounds, and maximal mouth opening were assessed preoperatively and at different intervals postoperatively.

RESULTS

The age in this study ranged from 14 to 66 years. The mean age of group A was 29.93 years with an SD of ±11.79. For group B, the mean age was 27.56 years and the SD was ±10.80, the prominent percentage in both groups was <30 years. Regarding sex, 45 patients were females, whereas the males were 15 with a ratio of 3:1. Group A registered the highest reduction in the visual analog scale at all postoperative intervals. With respect to the mouth opening, there was no significant difference in maximal mouth opening between the 2 groups after 1 week and 12 weeks in comparison with the preoperative measurements. The temporomandibular joint sounds improved in all patients in group A after 12 weeks, whereas in group B the sounds dropped to 33.3%.

CONCLUSION

The data from the present study suggested more favorable treatment outcomes for ozonized water lavage and it is a promising new treatment modality for the relief of symptoms associated with the ID of the temporomandibular joint.

Prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in the metropolitan region of Rio De Janeiro: A population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a group of heterogeneous pathological conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), mastication muscles, and some associated structures. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of signs and symptoms of dysfunction, including knowledge of TMD in a stratum of the population.

METHODS

A population extract from Rio de Janeiro subdivided by conglomerates was interviewed through an online form.

RESULTS

The results showed that only 19% of the participants had no symptoms related to TMD.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the symptom prevalence is directly related to knowledge and practices about the disorder and that its presence may be under-reported.

Oral Health Disparities in the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces

INTRODUCTION

In the military, good oral health is essential for combat readiness. The Royal Netherlands Armed Forces (RNAF) Dental Service is responsible for delivering a high standard of dental care to soldiers to ensure that commanding officers can deploy dentally fit troops. Oral health inequalities are associated with lower socioeconomic status. Rank is reflective of social status within the military hierarchy. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in the oral health status of RNAF personnel in relation to ranks and other determinants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All soldiers of the RNAF who underwent a regular dental inspection between January 15, 2018 and February 2, 2018 were enrolled. The decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index, Dutch Periodontal Screening Index, and Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) were used to assess their oral health. Dental fitness was categorized. Patients were questioned about their smoking behavior and perception of their oral health. Personnel were divided into the following three groups according to rank: officers, noncommissioned officers (NCOs), and enlisted ranks.

RESULTS

Nine hundred and eighty-four soldiers of the RNAF were included in this study. Enlisted ranks had significantly higher DMFT index and OHI-S scores than officers and NCOs (both P < .001), which was associated with smoking and older age. Enlisted ranks were also significantly more often determined to have unacceptable dental fitness than officers and NCOs after the examination (P = .033). There was also a difference in dental fitness classification between officers and NCOs, but this was not statistically significant (P = .103).

CONCLUSIONS

The lowest ranked military personnel are more frequently classified as dentally unfit for deployment than officers and NCOs due to oral health conditions. This is important when considering the allocation of dental resources to maximize the pool of deployable personnel.

Correlation Between Habitual Physical Activity and Central Sensitization, Pain Intensity, Kinesiophobia, Catastrophizing, and the Severity of Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorder

OBJECTIVE

We sought to correlate habitual physical activity with central sensitization, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and the severity of chronic myogenous temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

METHODS

This was an observational study. Fifty-five individuals, male and female, aged 18 to 45 years, with pain for at least 3 months (chronic) related to myogenous TMD were included in the study. Myogenous TMD was evaluated by means of the Numerical Rating Scale, Catastrophic Thoughts on Pain Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Fonseca Anamnestic Index, Central Sensitization Inventory, and habitual physical activity by means of the Baecke Questionnaire (BQ). The Spearman correlation coefficient (r s) was applied to verify the association of the BQ score with the pain variables.

RESULTS

No significant correlations (P > .05) were observed in the total or mean BQ scores (both r s = -0.17 to -0.04), nor in the analyses performed on the occupational (r s = -0.03 to 0.14), sport (r s = -0.16 to 0.01), and leisure domains (r s = -0.16 to -0.02).

CONCLUSION

Habitual physical activity as measured by the BQ is not associated with pain intensity, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, central sensitization, or the severity of chronic myogenous TMD.

Prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorder in people with Parkinson’s disease in a public university hospital

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorder in people with Parkinson’s disease in a public university hospital, and relate it to sociodemographic factors, general health and oral health self-report, and phase and time of illness. Methods: the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders were used. The sample was classified according to the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder and associated with the variables. The odds ratio of Chi-square was applied with a 95% confidence interval and a level of significance set at p<0.05. Results: 110 people presented with Parkinson's disease were assessed. The prevalence of temporomandibular disorder was 35%, being more frequent among males (58%), in elderly people (53%), in phase 2 of the disease (61%), click (37%) being the predominant clinical indication. Of the variables analyzed, only gender and self-perception of oral health showed to be associated with temporomandibular disorders. Conclusion: the presence of temporomandibular disorder has been observed in people with Parkinson's disease, and the fact of being male and reporting moderate oral health seen as associated factors.

Is quality of life affected by temporomandibular disorders?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of temporomandibular disorders in quality of life.

METHODS

A total of 102 volunteer patients (68 female) aged 19 to 86 years, who sought medical care in health clinics of the university and were evaluated in the period from September to December 2013. The subjects were examined according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, using a mechanical algometer (Palpeter®) with standardized pressure of 0.5 and 1.0kg, and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire, to assess quality of life. The data were tabulated for statistical analysis and the variables were correlated with the clinical findings of the temporomandibular disorders and quality of life.

RESULTS

Fifty percent of patients were positive for temporomandibular disorders and 39.2% classified as myofascial pain group. The temporomandibular disorder group was significantly associated with uncomfortable bite (p=0.0000), temporomandibular joint clicking (p=0.0001) and tooth clenching (p=0.0001). The Mann Whitney test used to analyze the SF-36 revealed that the domains of pain (mean score of 47.80%; p<0.0001) and mental health (62.67%; p<0.05) were strongly associated with temporomandibular disorders.

CONCLUSION

The quality of life of individuals with temporomandibular disorders was negatively affected by the presence of pain and mental health disorders.

The use of nonparametric effect sizes in single study musculoskeletal physiotherapy research: A practical primer

There is a strong push for the inclusion of effect size indexes alongside the reporting of statistical analysis in academic journals. Nonparametric methods of analysis have generally been developed less than their parametric counterparts have, and are also generally less well known. Too often researchers use parametric statistics where nonparametric measures would be more appropriate. This holds true for nonparametric measures of effect size, where even when researchers use nonparametric statistics, some use parametric effect size measures to interpret the result. This paper attempts to provide a practical overview and illustration of the correct usage and interpretation of effect size measures for nonparametric statistics for single study designs using real-world physiotherapy data in the worked examples. This primer covers a range of different formulae based on categorical measures of effect size, as well as between- and within-group designs using ranked data. While this primer does use examples focusing on physiotherapy research, the applications of the information can be used in any field of research.

Effect of educational and self-care therapies on masticatory performance of women with painful temporomandibular disorder

Abstract Introduction Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can compromise masticatory performance due to the presence of pain, muscular dysfunction and limitation of mandibular movements. Substantial improvements in TMD pain can be achieved through therapeutic approaches including education and self-care. Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of these treatment modalities in the masticatory performance of women with painful TMD. Material and method Fifty-two women were randomly divided into three groups: Control Group (CG); Education Group (received education about TMD) (EG); Self-Care and Education Group (received education about TMD and instructions self-care therapies) (SEG). The education instructions about TMD and self-care therapies were transmitted through a video and printed illustrative material. The masticatory performance was evaluated through the sieves method with natural tested foods in the evaluation periods: baseline evaluation, 30 days after and 60 days of follow-up. Data were analyzed and used with a one-way ANOVA parametric test for mean comparison of CG, EG and SEG groups (α = 0.05). Result The masticatory performance of the participants was similar, irrespective of the proposed treatments, at baseline (p=.604), 30 days (p=.450) and 60 days (p=.669). Conclusions The results indicated that treatment with educational and self-care therapies over a period of 60 days had no impact on the masticatory performance of women with painful TMD.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders discovered incidentally during routine dental examination using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) discovered incidentally during routine dental examination, identify disease patterns, and evaluate patients' attitude toward accepting treatment.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 3009 patients were examined at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates). Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) Axes I and II were used for assessment. Patients with acute/serious dysfunction symptoms underwent cone beam computed tomography examination. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to confirm the diagnosis of disk displacement.

RESULTS

Non-self-reported TMD prevalence was 10.8% (n = 325). Among patients with TMDs, women were diagnosed more often (65.85%) (P < .05) and those between ages 25 and 45 years (65.54%) (P < .05). Axis I assessment revealed disk displacement with reduction (group IIa) was the most common (40.92%). Axis II chronic pain grade showed that 32.62% of patients with TMDs experienced chronic pain, whereas 66.77% had mild disability. Interest in pursuing treatment was indicated by 92.31% of patients. Cone beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging assessments changed the primary diagnosis in 26.08% and 18.47% of cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

TMD screening during routine dental examination led to the diagnosis of non-self-reported TMDs, most commonly related to disk displacement with reduction. Radiographic assessment was important to confirm TMD diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with TMD during dental screening expressed interest in pursuing treatment.

Relationship Between Wind Instrument Playing Habits and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders in Non-Professional Musicians

Background:

In this study, we focused on the habits of wind instrumentalists as well as the presence of playing instruments, and investigated associations between the risk of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and playing wind instruments in non-professional musicians.

Material and Methods:

Seventy-two non-professional players of wind instruments (instrument group) (mean(SD), 20.0(1.1) y; 42 women) and 66 non-players (control group) (22.0(2.6) y; 45 women) participated in this study. Factors were investigated using questionnaires (a screening questionnaire for TMD, instrument playing habits, years of experience, and time played per day).

Result:

The prevalence of a high risk of TMD was not significantly different between the instrument group (29.2%) and control group (21.2%). In the instrument group, the frequency of subjects who felt mouthpiece pressure in the high risk of TMD group (47.6%) was significantly greater than that in the low risk of TMD group (21.6%). Mouthpiece pressure was found to be a significant factor contributing to a high risk of TMD (odds ratio, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.12–9.79).

Conclusion:

This study suggests that pressure from the mouthpiece was one of the contributing factors related to a high risk of TMD in non-professional wind instrument players.