PREVALENCE OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT PAIN IN FINAL-YEAR BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY STUDENTS
Keywords:
Bruxism, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dental Students, Female, Male, Prevalence, Stress, Psychological, Temporomandibular Joint DisordersAbstract
Background: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is a frequent musculoskeletal complaint among dental professionals and students due to high academic stress, prolonged clinical workload, and repetitive jaw activity. Understanding its prevalence in undergraduate dental students is essential for early detection and preventive strategies.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of TMJ pain and identify associated risk factors among final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery students.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over four months in two dental colleges located in Lahore and Islamabad. A total of 216 final-year students were recruited using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire assessing TMJ symptoms, academic stress, and clinical workload, followed by a standardized clinical examination to confirm pain. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic variables and symptom frequencies. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests evaluated group differences, while logistic regression identified predictors of TMJ pain. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of TMJ pain was 38.4% (n = 83). Female students showed a higher prevalence (41.1%) compared to males (34.8%). High academic stress was significantly associated with TMJ pain (49.3% vs. 28.4%, p = 0.01), and daily clinical workload exceeding six hours increased risk (46.7% vs. 33.1%, p = 0.04). The most common symptoms were preauricular tenderness (29.6%), pain during mastication (23.1%), and joint clicking (19.4%). Logistic regression confirmed high stress as an independent predictor of TMJ pain (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.0).
Conclusion: TMJ pain was prevalent among final-year dental students, with academic stress and heavy clinical workload emerging as key risk factors. Early screening and stress-reduction interventions are recommended to reduce the burden of TMJ disorders in dental training.
References
1. Khawar S, Bari N, Rao AH, Malik AA, Nasir S, Kayani AJPJoHS. Association between Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction and Stress in Undergraduate BDS Students of Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and Stress. 2025:67-71.
2. Miettinen O. Temporomandibular disorders: prevalence of symptoms and association with health behaviors and oral health-related quality of life. 2023.
3. Alshamery HJBUoB. Impact of occlusion efficiency on temporomandibular joint after implant rehabilitation in partially edentulous patients [thesis on the internet]. 2024.
4. Singer SR, Mupparapu MJDCNA. Temporomandibular joint imaging. 2023;67(2):227-41.
5. Déadach na hÉireann IC. JIDA Volume 67 Number 3 June/July 2021.
6. Sessle BJ. Orofacial pain: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015.
7. Ahmad I. Prosthodontics at a Glance: John Wiley & Sons; 2021.
8. Verma M, Nanda A. Prosthodontic Treatment for Edentulous Patients: Complete Dentures and Implant-Supported Prostheses-EBK: 1st South Asia Edition: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2017.
9. Hobrink J, Zarb GA, Bolender CL, Eckert S, Jacob R, Fenton A, et al. Prosthodontic treatment for edentulous patients: complete dentures and implant-supported prostheses: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2003.
10. Carlsson GE, Omar RJMP, Practice. Trends in prosthodontics. 2006;15(3):167-79.
11. Jacob RF, Chang T-LJPTfEPSAR-E-b. Maxillofacial prosthodontics for the edentulous patient. 2012:351.
12. Nallaswamy D. Textbook of prosthodontics: JP Medical Ltd; 2017.
13. Nilsson I-M, Drangsholt M, List TJJoop. Impact of temporomandibular disorder pain in adolescents: differences by age and gender. 2009;23(2).
14. Ilyas T, Wadood A, Jawa R, Ali S, Ayub R, Maqbool S, et al. Frequency of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction among Undergraduate University Students: A Cross Sectional Study: Frequency of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. 2023:194-7.
15. Al-Khotani AAM. Orofacial pain and jaw function in children and adolescents: epidemiology, biopsychosocial implications and caregivers' approach: Karolinska Institutet (Sweden); 2016.
16. Al‐Khotani A, Naimi‐Akbar A, Björnsson O, Christidis N, Alstergren PJJoOR. Professional knowledge among Swedish and Saudi healthcare practitioners regarding oro‐facial pain in children and adolescents. 2016;43(1):1-9.
17. Sangalli L, Gibler R, Boggero IJFiPR. Pediatric chronic orofacial pain: a narrative review of biopsychosocial associations and treatment approaches. 2021;2:790420.
18. Sawicki CM, Sangalli LJC. Pediatric Dentists’ Practice Patterns in the Screening, Diagnosis, and Management of Temporomandibular Disorders. 2024;11(10):1168.
19. Widmalm SE, Christiansen RL, Gunn SMJC. Oral parafunctions as temporomandibular disorder risk factors in children. 1995;13(4):242-6.
20. KARIBE H, SHIMAZU K, KATO Y, WARITA-NAOI S, KAWAKAMI TJIJoPD. Factors affecting symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in adolescents: P12-347. 2013;23:158.
21. List T, Wahlund K, Larsson BJJoop. Psychosocial functioning and dental factors in adolescents with temporomandibular disorders: a case-control study. 2001;15(3).
22. Karibe H, Goddard G, Aoyagi K, Kawakami T, Warita S, Shimazu K, et al. Comparison of subjective symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in young patients by age and gender. 2012;30(2):114-20.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Haq Nawaz Hasni, Mehak Rani, Aqsa Qasim (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
