Pain threshold, sleep quality and anxiety levels in individuals with temporomandibular disorders

ABSTRACT Purpose: to evaluate the pressure pain threshold, sleep quality and anxiety levels of individuals with different types of chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: a controlled, observational and cross-sectional study. TMD diagnosis followed the Research Diagnostic Criteria and the volunteers were divided into three groups: A-Muscular Disorder (n = 15), B- Articular Disorder (n = 10) and C- Control Group (n = 15). Evaluation was performed using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Visual Analog Scale, Algometry and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The significance level for all tests was 5%. Results: lower threshold of pain was seen in the masticatory and cervical musculature within groups A and B. However, when TMD groups were compared to the control group, only a statistically significant difference in the pain threshold of the masticatory muscle and the trapezius muscle was found. Groups A and B presented poor sleep quality, showing a statistical difference when compared to the control group. Additionally, it was observed that patients in the groups with TMD presented anxiety, while those in the control group, did not present it. Conclusion: individuals presented with TMD show lower levels of pain threshold, sleep quality and anxiety, as compared to healthy subjects. These results do not depend on the type of disorder presented.