Abstract
Introduction Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a common source of facial pain, resulting from an interaction of biopsychosocial factors. However, social risk factors related to TMD have been researched very little, particularly in patients attending a tertiary care service.Aims To review sociodemographic trends among patients referred to a UK tertiary TMD clinic for specialist management. To provide an insight into the sociodemographic risk factors associated with TMD in patients referred for specialist input and to discuss the surrounding literature.Methods Retrospective review of notes of patients referred to a UK tertiary TMD clinic. Trends in areas of deprivation from which patients came from were quantified into deciles using the English Multiple Indices of Deprivation.Results The mean age of patients was 41.1 years, with women being overrepresented compared to men. Most patients were referred by their general dental practitioner, although a variety of secondary care specialties also referred to this service. A disproportionate number of patients came from the highest decile of deprivation, a trend seen throughout the entire sample and in patients seen by dental professionals specifically. There was no apparent association between this and longer symptom duration.Conclusion Women and those from areas with the highest levels of deprivation were overrepresented in this tertiary clinic setting. Dentists should maintain an awareness of the risk factors for TMD development as well as those which may complicate its management in cases requiring specialist input.
Highlights
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a common source of facial pain, resulting from an interaction of biopsychosocial factors
Most patients were referred by their general dental practitioner, a variety of secondary care specialties referred to this service
Dentists should maintain an awareness of the risk factors for TMD development as well as those which may complicate its management in cases requiring specialist input
Summary
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a common source of facial pain, resulting from an interaction of biopsychosocial factors. Long viewed as a simple mechanical joint disease, it is accepted that TMD is a complex chronic pain disorder.[3,4,5] Research has been heavily focused on biological aetiologies[6,7] and treatment centred around physical interventions, such as splinting and physiotherapy.[5] Crucially, chronic pain is characterised not just by biological dysfunction, but by psychological and socioeconomic elements.[8] Data from chronic pain conditions other than TMD show added benefits from a multidisciplinary management approach, focusing on addressing underlying psychosocial factors alongside biological intervention.[9] there is little evidence analysing the impact of this directly in TMD, this strategy has started to be utilised in treatment as the multifactorial aetiology of the disorder shares much in common with the conditions where this approach is advantageous.[10]
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