The prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorder in female students from 17 to 30 years at Taibah University in all colleges

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD) and its association with anxiety, college, all-day activities, and stress among female students at Taibah University. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out to develop a consensus of female students at Taibah University in all colleges from ages 17 to 30 years. The data were obtained through a questionnaire survey. A Google Drive questionnaire template was used. The questionnaire was sent to the participants through WhatsApp, SMS, and emails. Results: The study included 205 female students, with the majority of the participants falling between the ages of 17 and 23 years (78%). According to the presented data, 29.3% of participants reported having or presently experiencing issues with their jaw joints. The most prevalent symptom among those reported was a crackling sound (72.4%). Around 43.6% participants said that exercises were the most effective treatment for jaw problems, whereas 40% believed that medications were the most effective treatment. There was a significant correlation between age and having or currently suffering from jaw joint problems (p-value = 0.031). Conclusion: The current study highlighted the high prevalence of jaw joint problems, which is known as temporomandibular disorders among female university students of different colleges. The current study also reported that there are different factors that might be associated with aggravation and development of the Temporomandibular joint including stress, sleep disturbance, and changes in daily routine.