The aim of this study was to assess the oral health condition of Croatian war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study included 50 men who experienced combat stress and had been diagnosed with PTSD. They were compared with the group of 50 age-matched men who did not participate in war and did not have PTSD. Xerostomia, oral mucosal lesion, oral hygiene status, dental, and periodontal conditions, as well as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) were assessed and compared between the groups. Subjects in PTSD group had poorer oral hygiene, and periodontal status compared with the control subjects. Furthermore, they had less teeth than the control group (P = 0.04). Although, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index (P = 0.36), PTSD group had more decayed and missing teeth, but less filled teeth (P < 0.05 for all). According the Research Diagnosis Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD), PTSD patients had more TMD diagnoses compared with the control subjects. The most prevalent diagnosis was myofascial pain (48%) in PTSD group, while in the control group it was disc displacement with reduction (8%). It can be concluded that the oral health condition in PTSD patients is significantly affected compared with the control subjects.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurring as a consequence of exposure to war stress. The examined group consisted of 100 male subjects, aged from 25 to 50 years, who had taken part in the War in Croatia, and in whom PTSD had previously been diagnosed. The control group comprised 100 subjects, without PTSD, of the same sex and age group, who had not taken part in the War. A functional evaluation of the stomatognathic system was performed using the Helkimo Anamnestic and Clinical Dysfunction Index. Eighty-two per cent of the group with PTSD had at least one symptom, and 98% at least one sign of dysfunction. Eight per cent reported mild symptoms and 74% severe symptoms. Twenty-eight per cent showed mild clinical signs, 22% had signs of moderate, and 48% of severe dysfunction. Twenty-four per cent of the control group of subjects had at least one symptom, and 52% at least one clinical sign of dysfunction. Twenty-two per cent reported mild and 2% severe symptoms. Mild clinical signs of dysfunction were found in 50% of subjects in the control group, moderate in 2% and none exhibited severe clinical signs. It is concluded that correlation exists between war stress and temporomandibular disorders.

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The psychological elements and female gender are the main predictors of seeking dental therapy. Understanding the prevalence of dissatisfaction with the present esthetics and desired treatments to improve esthetics can be a guide for strategies for intervention to improve esthetics.

Pain in masticatory muscles is among the most prominent symptoms of temperomandibular disorders (TMDs) that have diverse and complex etiology. A common complaint of TMD is that unilateral pain of craniofacial muscle can cause a widespread of bilateral pain sensation, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. To investigate whether unilateral inflammation of masseter muscle can cause a bilateral allodynia, we generated masseter muscle inflammation induced by unilateral injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in rats, and measured the bilateral head withdrawal threshold at different time points using a von Frey anesthesiometer. After behavioral assessment, both right and left trigeminal ganglia (TRG) were dissected and examined for histopathology and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) mRNA expression using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. A significant increase in TRPV1 mRNA expression occurred in TRG ipsilateral to CFA injected masseter muscle, whereas no significant alteration in TRPV1 occurred in the contralateral TRG. Interestingly, central injection of TRPV1 antagonist 5-iodoresiniferatoxin into the hippocampus significantly attenuated the head withdrawal response of both CFA injected and non-CFA injected contralateral masseter muscle. Our findings show that unilateral inflammation of masseter muscle is capable of inducing bilateral allodynia in rats. Upregulation of TRPV1 at the TRG level is due to nociception caused by inflammation, whereas contralateral nocifensive behavior in masticatory muscle nociception is likely mediated by central TRPV1, pointing to the involvement of altered information processing in higher centers.