TMD Symptom Characteristics and Their Four‐Dimensional Impact on Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life

BACKGROUND: This study examined how temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms impact the four dimensions of Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and identified symptom determinants contributing to high jaw disability and low OHRQoL. METHODS: Participants with pain-related (PT), intra-articular (IT), and combined TMD (CT) symptoms completed the Five TMD Symptoms-4D Screener, Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-8, and Oral Health Impact Profile for TMDs. TMD symptoms and impact were each assessed in four dimensions: duration-S1, frequency-S2, intensity-S3, and interference-S4; oral function-I1, orofacial pain-I2, orofacial esthetics-I3, and psychosocial impact-I4. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test, nonparametric methods, and logistic regression (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Among the 272 participants (mean age 31.3 years), 5.5%, 18.0%, and 76.5% had PT, IT, and CT symptoms, respectively. Significant differences in global TMD severity (CT > IT/PT), duration (IT > CT > PT), frequency (IT > CT > PT), intensity (IT/CT > PT), jaw disability (PT/CT > IT), and global OHIP (PT/CT > IT) scores were observed. Additionally, significant differences were identified in I1 (CT > IT), I2 (PT/CT > IT), and I4 (PT/CT > IT) dimensions. Symptom-impact dimension correlations varied based on the type of TMD symptoms. PT, CT, and S4 were significantly associated with both high jaw functional limitation and low OHRQoL (ORs = 3.78-47.06). CONCLUSIONS: TMD pain and symptom interference were key determinants of reduced OHRQoL, underscoring the need for symptom-specific assessment and individualized care.