Factors Influencing the Xerostomia Symptoms in the Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated factors influencing the xerostomia symptoms in the patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Methods: Eighty-six participants over the age of twenty were randomly enrolled from patients with TMDs. The patients were diagnosed by Diagnostic Criteria-TMD (DC-TMD). Intensity of the pain and level of stress of the patients were recorded using TMD pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and stress VAS, respectively. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90R), dry mouth symptom questionnaire, unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR) and oral moisture were measured. Results: The patients who had above the mean of the TMD pain VAS had significantly higher scores on the stress VAS, subjective dry mouth symptoms and T-score of somatization. The patients who suffered from pain more than three months had significantly higher TMD pain VAS, subjective dry mouth symptoms and T-score of somatization. There were no significant differences in xerostomic symptoms according to the diagnosis of TMDs. Moreover, TMD pain VAS and the stress VAS did not correlated to USFR and oral moisture. Conclusions: The level of individuals' TMD pain and stress significantly affect their subjective dry mouth symptoms, however, it did not affect USFR and oral moisture.