Occurrence of Parafunctional Habits in Adults with and without Temporomandibular Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

The study aimed to determine the occurrence of parafunctional habits in adults with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD). It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital and Fatima Tuz Zahra Medical Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from March 2023 to January 2024. A Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) was utilised as a screening tool for grading TMD. Four hundred participants were divided into four groups according to all four grades of TMD by using a non-probability quota sampling and were inquired about the occurrence of parafunctional habits. Two hundred and eighty-five (71.3%) were female, and 115 (28.8%) were male participants. The findings depicted that headache (81.6%, n = 326) was the most frequently reported TMD symptom, while leaning the jaw on hands (59.5%, n = 238) was identified as the most common parafunctional habit. The results indicated the high occurrence of concomitant or parafunctional habits in moderate and severe grades of TMD. This study may help inform preventive measures for parafunctional habits, particularly among individuals exhibiting moderate to severe symptoms of TMDs.