Physical, psychological and socio‐demographic predictors related to patients’ self‐belief of their temporomandibular disorders’ aetiology

Abstract

Background The aetiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) has been widely discussed in literature, but little is known about patients’ self‐belief of their TMD aetiology. Objective For six categories of self‐believed aetiology of the TMD complaint (viz., occlusal factors, physical trauma, emotional stress, deep pain input, parafunctions and unknown), associations with physical, psychological and socio‐demographic predictors were assessed. Methods In this retrospective study, medical records of 328 TMD patients who had visited a clinic for Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine were analysed. Results The most frequently reported self‐believed TMD aetiology was ‘unknown’ (42.3%). The category ‘occlusal factors’ was associated with pain worsening with emotion. ‘Physical trauma’ as self‐believed aetiology was associated with TMD dysfunction score. ‘Emotional stress’ was associated with awake bruxism and age 18‐49 years. ‘Deep pain input’ was associated with TMD dysfunction score, sleep bruxism, and arthritis or joint pain. ‘Parafunctions’ were associated with sleep bruxism. ‘Unknown’ was associated with TMD symptoms severity and work disability. Conclusion For each category of self‐believed aetiology of the TMD complaint, different associations with physical, psychological and socio‐demographic predictors were identified. This may suggest that individual phenotypes play a role in the patient's belief in the cause of the TMD complaint. Determination of phenotypic risk factors associated with aetiological self‐belief might help clinicians to provide better treatment, including counselling, to their patients.

Detrimental impact of temporomandibular disorders (mis)beliefs and possible strategies to overcome

“…There are some relevant studies that evaluated the beliefs of patients with TMD and other painful conditions. [26][27][28][29][30] Beliefs in causal attributions in which patients express beliefs about the cause of their own conditions are relevant among these studies. For instance, one study investigated whether the existence of an association between self-reported oral waking behaviours and TMD pain depended on patients' beliefs that these behaviours were prejudicial.…”

Patients’ perceptions on temporomandibular disorder treatment with hydrostatic oral splints - a pilot study

“…Contrary to initial presumptions, occlusal factors play a minor role in the development of TMDs [ 9 ]. Nevertheless, a significant number of patients relate TMD symptoms with occlusal factors and therefore consult a dentist or orthodontist at first when symptoms occur [ 10 ]. According to the current state of art, biological, psychological and social factors are crucial for the pathogenesis of TMD [ 11 ].…”

The Prevalence and Overlaps of Temporomandibular Disorders in Patients with Myofascial Pain with Referral—A Pilot Study

“…TMDs represents a group of musculoskeletal/neuromuscular conditions that may affect masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its associated structures [ 6 , 7 ]. The main symptoms and signs of TMD include masticatory pain, headaches, limited mandibular motion and its deviation pattern, TMJ noises, subluxation or/and jaw locked, jaw functional limitations, neck pain and poor sleep quality [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…These components can be considered as initiating, predisposing or perpetuating factors. The most common reasons concern direct and indirect trauma, repetitive microtrauma, systemic and local factors, postural and parafunctional habits, genetic determination as well as psychosocial findings relating to depression and anxiety [ 2 , 6 , 8 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The role of occlusion still remains unclear [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

“…Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 9842 2 of 17 parafunctional habits, genetic determination as well as psychosocial findings relating to depression and anxiety [2,6,8,13,[15][16][17][18][19]. The role of occlusion still remains unclear [20][21][22][23][24][25].…”