Influence of temporomandibular disorder presence and severity on oral health-related quality of life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular disorders are highly prevalent and may impair several oral function- related aspects. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of the presence and severity of temporomandibular disorder signs and symptoms on oral health-related quality of life. METHODS: Participated in the study 135 dentistry students of the Federal University of Paraiba. The presence of temporomandibular disorder was determined by means of an anamnesis questionnaire and a summarized clinical evaluation protocol. Oral health-related quality of life was determined by the summarized Oral Health Impact Profile version translated and validated for the Portuguese language. Statistical comparisons between Oral Health Impact Profile-14 means related to the presence of temporomandibular disorder signs and symptoms were achieved with Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Volunteers with temporomandibular disorder (p<0.001), needing treatment (p<0.001) and higher severity (p<0.001) had higher impact on oral health-related quality of life. Volunteers with clinical temporomandibular disorder signs had further quality of life impairment, being that individuals with simultaneous muscle and joint temporomandibular disorders (p=0.034) had higher Oral Health Impact Profile-14 scores. Most impaired domains were physical pain (p=0.045), functional limitation (p=0.007) and psychological discomfort (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Temporomandibular disorder severity has negative impact on quality of life, especially in volunteers with simultaneous joint and muscle clinical signs.