Investigation of the relationship between stress and temporomandibular joint dysfunction during preclinical and postclinical education among dentistry faculty students at Kütahya Health Sciences University

To determine the relationship between the presence of joint dysfunction and stress levels during preclinical and postclinical education in dentistry students. The study was conducted with a total of 250 students, 50 from each year, at Kütahya Health Sciences University’s Faculty of Dentistry. The students were divided into two main groups: the preclinical education and postclinical education groups. The research data were collected via a 28-item questionnaire conducted face to face with the students, consisting of sociodemographic questions, the Fonseca Anamnestic Index, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the Fonseca Index score and the PSS score ( r = 0.869, p < 0.05). Higher PSS scores were observed in the participants with higher temporomandibular disorder (TMD) severity. Moreover, significant differences were observed in the PSS scores of those who were in postclinical education, women, smokers, those who did not live with their families, those whose first choice was not this faculty, and those who did not exercise regularly, and they exhibited higher stress levels. There was no significant relationship between TMD and PSS scores in the second-year smokers, the first-year students whose first choice was not this faculty, and the fourth-year students who exercised regularly ( p > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that postclinical education and PSS scores were significantly associated with TMD. Within the limitations of this cross-sectional study, a significant association was found between TMD severity and perceived stress among dental students. Postclinical education may be associated with higher stress levels.