July JADA finds psychological conditions, other pain disorders increase TMD risk

Psychological conditions, pain disorders, sleep disorders and orofacial symptoms increase people's risk of developing first-onset temporomandibular disorders, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

The cover story, "Chairside Risk Assessment for First-Onset Temporomandibular Disorders: Result from the Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment Data Set," analyzed potential demographic, systemic and local risk contributors of 2,737 participants of the Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment data set, finding coexisting conditions and symptoms from multiple body systems substantially elevated their risk of developing temporomandibular disorder pain.

Because of this, multisystem risk assessment and interprofessional collaborations are important for the prevention of temporomandibular disorders, according to the study, which recommends dentists include psychological conditions, pain disorders, sleep disorders and orofacial symptoms when assessing patients' risk of developing temporomandibular disorder pain.

"Our study found that in addition to orofacial issues, the presence of general health factors such as pain in other parts of the body, psychological conditions and nonrestorative sleep significantly increases the risk for TMD pain," said Hong Chen, D.D.S., corresponding author of the study and assistant professor in the University of Iowa College of Dentistry’s department of preventive and community dentistry. "Therefore, to address both orofacial and general health risk factors, the evaluation and prevention of TMD should go beyond the orofacial region. Given that oral health is an important component of systemic health, pain and dysfunction in the masticatory system should be evaluated in the context of the whole body. In this regard, dentists, physicians and other health care professionals should work together to increase prevention for TMD and improve the quality of care for patients suffering orofacial pain."

Other articles in the July issue of JADA discuss COVID-19 testing in dental offices , 2020 dental office visit trends, and Medicaid, dental care and tooth loss in low-income older adults.

Every month, JADA articles are published online at JADA.ADA.org in advance of the print publication.