Temporomandibular joints disorders TMDs prevalence and its relation to anxiety in dental students

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders TMDs are very common disorders
affecting the population and causing pain. Researches have reported a high
prevalence of TMDs among university students due to increased distress.
Aim: To determine the frequency of TMDs in Umm al-Qura University UQU
dental students using Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders
(DC/TMD). Also, to examine the relationship between anxiety, bruxism, and
TMDs among those students. Methods: RDC / TMD pain screener questionnaire
was completed by dental students. Students who reported TMD pain or had at
least one positive TMD symptom were invited to the dental clinic for a
full TMJ evaluation. History of bruxism was documented and an ultra-brief
tool for detecting anxiety and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-4
PHQ) was completed by all students. Results: A total of 240 students
responded to the TMJ pain screener in which 119 reported at least one TMJ
symptom. Only 93 dental students presented to clinical examination in
which 64.5% (n=60) of them had temporomandibular joint disorders. Disc
displacement with reduction and local myalgia (38.7 % & 32.25%
respectively) were the most frequent diagnosis. A total of 29%(n=27) of
students had more than one diagnosis. Forty-one participants (44.09 %)
reported a positive response to the anxiety scale and (n=38) 40% of
participants reported parafunctional habit. Both the history of bruxism
and anxiety were significantly related to TMDs (P=0.0002) and also
significantly higher in females of higher academic years(P ≤0.01).
Conclusion: High prevalence of TMDs among UQU dental students. Disc
displacement with reduction was the most prevalent disorder. Bruxism and
anxiety were associated with painful TMDs