Temporomandibular disorders in an adult population in northern Norway: A cross-sectional study.

Elin Hadler‐Olsen,Birgitta Jönsson,Nils Oscarson,Elizabeth Thon,Gro Eirin Holde,Anders Tillberg

doi:10.1002/cre2.463

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms indicative of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in an adult population in Troms County in Northern Norway, as well as the associations between TMD and socio‐demographic factors, dental status, self‐reported general, and oral health as well as oral health related quality of life (OHQoL).MethodsData were collected from a structured questionnaire and a clinical examination of a random sample of almost 2000 adults, 20–79‐year‐old, in Troms County in Northern Norway.ResultsWomen had a higher prevalence of all self‐reported and clinical signs of pain and dysfunction in the temporomandibular complex compared to men. For both genders, sounds from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) upon clinical examination was the most common symptom, followed by pain to palpation of jaw muscles. Headache was the most common of the self‐reported symptoms and sounds from the TMJ the second most common. Young women had a higher prevalence of self‐reported headache and jaw‐ and face pain compared to middle‐aged and elderly women. TMD‐related symptoms of pain were significantly associated with poor self‐reported general health and correlated with OHQoL as assessed by the oral health impact profile 14 questionnaire.ConclusionBeing women and having moderate to poor self‐reported general health were associated with clinical signs and self‐reported symptoms of pain in the jaw, face and head region. Self‐reported symptoms of TMD correlated more strongly with OHQoL than clinical signs.

Highlights

Pain in the temporomandibular region is a common chronic pain condition, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a collective term used to describe pain and functional disturbances of the masticatory system (List & Jensen, 2017; Lovgren, Haggman-Henrikson, et al, 2016)
The present study is the first to report prevalence of symptoms related to TMD as well as correlation data between TMD and oral healthrelated quality of life (OHRQoL) in a Norwegian population
We found that clinical signs of TMD pain and dysfunction were more prevalent than self-reported symptoms, with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds and jaw muscle pain to palpation being the most frequently encountered

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

Pain in the temporomandibular region is a common chronic pain condition, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a collective term used to describe pain and functional disturbances of the masticatory system (List & Jensen, 2017; Lovgren, Haggman-Henrikson, et al, 2016). Longitudinal OPPERA studies (Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment), numerous risk factors have been validated and ranked based on their impact According to these studies, other health conditions, both painful, and non-painful ones, are among the most important risk factors for TMD development (Slade et al, 2016). There are no previous studies reporting prevalence of symptoms related to TMD and their association to OHRQoL in a Norwegian adult population. The cross-sectional, population-based study called Tromstannen – Oral Health in Northern Norway (TOHNN) assessed both subjective symptoms as well as clinical signs of TMD in almost 2000 adults in Troms County in Northern Norway. The study aimed at assessing the prevalence of subjective and clinical signs indicative of TMD, as well as their association with socio-demographic factors, general and oral health as well as OHRQoL

| Study design

| RESULTS

Findings

| DISCUSSION