Temporomandibular disorder, body pain and systemic diseases: assessing their associations in adolescents

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorder, body pain and systemic diseases: assessing their associations in adolescents Painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in children and adolescents may impact negatively the individual´s life. The presence of comorbidities associated with TMD tends to increase the persistence of pain and to facilitate its chronification. Objective: To investigate the presence of other painful conditions and systemic diseases and their association with painful TMD. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 690 adolescents aged between 12-14 years old were evaluated through questionnaires and clinical examinations. Results: Painful TMD was found in 16.2% of the sample, with a significant association with bronchitis (OR= 2.5; p=0.003) and asthma (OR=3.1; p=0.013), reported by the parents/legal guardians of the participants. Adolescents with regional and widespread pain were 2.7 (95% CI: 1.65-4.55) and 3.6 (95% CI: 1.29-10.14) more likely to also present painful TMD. Painful TMD was associated with a higher number of body pain sites in the last 12 months (4.26 vs. 2.90; p<0.001), as well as a higher number of systemic diseases (1.48 vs. 1.18; p=0.048), when compared to adolescents without painful TMD. Conclusion: The findings of this study point out the importance of considering the presence of comorbid conditions in the diagnosis and management of painful TMD in adolescents. A multidisciplinary approach would contribute to better control of painful TMD and decrease its chronification risk.

TMD Among Adolescents

“…A study investigated the association between psychological factors and TMD in adolescents between 12 and 15 years, found that pain related TMDs are associated with psychological factors in the adolescent population of rural Columbia. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and somatization were found to be associated to TMD, unrelated to the frequency [14]. Psychological characteristics can be either a cause or consequences of temporomandibular disorders [11,14].…”

“…Symptoms of anxiety, depression and somatization were found to be associated to TMD, unrelated to the frequency [14]. Psychological characteristics can be either a cause or consequences of temporomandibular disorders [11,14].…”

Temporomandibular Joint Minimally Invasive Procedures in the Pediatric Population: A Prospective Study

“…The association of some degree of inflammation in the respiratory system and the body seems to correlate with painful TMD. In a cross-sectional study published by Braido et al [49], the authors described how bronchitis and asthma were statistically associated with painful TMD. Individuals affected by these two chronic respiratory inflammatory conditions presented an increased risk of 2.5 and 3.1 of having temporomandibular arthralgia.…”

“…Individuals affected by these two chronic respiratory inflammatory conditions presented an increased risk of 2.5 and 3.1 of having temporomandibular arthralgia. The connection seems to be an excessive use of the accessory respiratory muscles, with increased tension in the cervical region generating a nociceptive stimulus that triggers orofacial pain [49].…”

Tooth movement, orofacial pain, and leptin, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor–α levels in obese adolescents

“…Widespread pain may indicate changes related to central sensitization, partially explaining the relationship between obesity and comorbidities with painful conditions. 5 The tooth movement induced by fixed orthodontic appliances causes a change of the microbiome and subsequent infections, such as an inflammatory response in the periodontium. Orthodontic appliances make it more difficult to keep teeth clean and induce plaque accumulation.…”