Analysis of the relationship between temporomandibular dysfunction and sleep quality: A cross-sectional study

Edilaine Soares Santos,Valthierre Nunes De Lima,Karolina Nunes Freitas Moraes,Henrique Hadad,Lamis Meorin Nogueira,Rachel Silva Lima,Fabiele Perpétua Chagas Sabatim Barros,Antônio Marcos De Souza Prates

doi:10.33448/rsd-v10i7.16088

Abstract

Considered as a set of disorders, temporomandibular disorder (TMD) involves several anatomical structures such as the temporomandibular joint, masticatory muscles and attached structures. Its etiology is multifactorial, and the psychobehavioral factor, especially sleep disorders, is relevant in this context. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), sleep quality, and possible associations between these variables, in first to fifth year students of the Dental School. A sample of 182 students participated in this study and a questionnaire proposed by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire were used to obtain the data. 75.27% of the students were females and 24.72% males. TMD was observed in 45.60% of students, and 68.13% of the students reported poor sleep quality. However, there was no significant association between the variables (TMD and sleep quality, p=0.114). Regarding the severity of TMD, the mild form was more prevalent (34.61%), being more prevalent in females (79.16%). However, there was no significant association between TMD and sleep quality (p=0.317). There was no association between TMD and sleep quality in the studied population.

Highlights

Temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMD) as defined by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) include a set of disorders involving various structures of the stomatognathic system, such as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles (Carrara et al, 2010)
In terms of biopsychosocial etiology, studies have shown some emotional factors, such as anxiety, depression, stress, mood fluctuations, and sleep disorders contribute to TMJ disorders (Pinto et al, 2017; Zwiri et al, 2020; Jariyasakulroj & Mitrirattanakul, 2020)
The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of TMD and assess sleep quality in first to fifth year students of the Centro Universitário de Rio Preto-UNIRP Dental School, and to verify whether there is an association between these variables

Summary

Introduction

Temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMD) as defined by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) include a set of disorders involving various structures of the stomatognathic system, such as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles (Carrara et al, 2010). Among the signs and symptoms reported by the patients, the most prevalent are the cracking sound during opening and closing of the mouth, pain at the TMJ and adjacent area, muscle fatigue, headaches, limited mouth opening, and hearing disorders (Pinto et al, 2017). In terms of biopsychosocial etiology, studies have shown some emotional factors, such as anxiety, depression, stress, mood fluctuations, and sleep disorders contribute to TMJ disorders (Pinto et al, 2017; Zwiri et al, 2020; Jariyasakulroj & Mitrirattanakul, 2020). Studies on quality of sleep have shown a bidirectional association between TMD and sleep disorders (Almoznino et al, 2017). This relationship is based on TMD symptoms, especially pain, which increases the individuals degree of mental and physical commitment (Ton et al, 2020). Other factors, such as stress and anxiety, have been reported to affect this relationship (Tonial et al, 2014)

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Results