Temporomandibular Disorders and Bruxism Outbreak as a Possible Factor of Orofacial Pain Worsening during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Concomitant Research in Two Countries

Abstract

Background: In late December 2019, a new pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection began to spread around the world. The new situation gave rise to severe health threats, economic uncertainty, and social isolation, causing potential deleterious effects on people’s physical and mental health. These effects are capable of influencing oral and maxillofacial conditions, such as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and bruxism, which could further aggravate the orofacial pain. Two concomitant studies aimed to evaluate the effect of the current pandemic on the possible prevalence and worsening of TMD and bruxism symptoms among subjects selected from two culturally different countries: Israel and Poland. Materials and Methods: Studies were conducted as cross-sectional online surveys using similar anonymous questionnaires during the lockdown practiced in both countries. The authors obtained 700 complete responses from Israel and 1092 from Poland. In the first step, data concerning TMDs and bruxism were compared between the two countries. In the second step, univariate analyses (Chi2) were performed to investigate the effects of anxiety, depression, and personal concerns of the Coronavirus pandemic, on the symptoms of TMD, and bruxism symptoms and their possible aggravation. Finally, multivariate analyses (logistic regression models) were carried out to identify the study variables that had a predictive value on TMD, bruxism, and symptom aggravation in the two countries. Results: The results showed that the Coronavirus pandemic has caused significant adverse effects on the psychoemotional status of both Israeli and Polish populations, resulting in the intensification of their bruxism and TMD symptoms. Conclusions: The aggravation of the psychoemotional status caused by the Coronavirus pandemic can result in bruxism and TMD symptoms intensification and thus lead to increased orofacial pain.

Awake Bruxism – Definition Through Self-report and Through Ecological Momentary Assessment

“…Both studies used basically similar questions to define AB (2 questions in the adolescent study, 3 questions in the present study). In a recent study, carried out in Israel and Poland during the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of AB, as assessed by similar single point self-report questions, was around 30% (21% for males, 38% for females) for subjects 18-35 of age [31].…”

Public Concerns during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multicultural Cross-Sectional Study among Internet Survey Respondents in Three Countries

“…However, the two populations varied in their reaction to the stress. For example, the odds of occurrence of orofacial pain symptoms among Polish subjects were on average over 3 times higher than that among Israeli subjects [ 15 ]. Understanding the factors that cause worries, anxiety, and depression among different communities will enable us to develop response strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, social isolation, and uncertainty on well-being, and physical and mental health in culturally different societies.…”

Temporomandibular Disorders Slow Down the Regeneration Process of Masticatory Muscles: Transcriptomic Analysis

“…Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) represent a group of conditions responsible for pain and dysfunction of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints (TMJs) [ 1 , 2 ]. TMDs affect 10–15% of the adult population aged 20–40 and in prevalence affects women more frequently compared to men [ 3 ].…”

“…Limited jaw movements, regional pain and acoustic sounds from TMJs during motion are the most frequent hallmarks of TMD [ 4 ]. Moreover, morphological and functional alterations of the masticatory muscles, mandibular disarticulation, orofacial pain were reported [ 2 ]. A repetitive jaw muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, and/or bracing or thrusting of the mandible induce a condition known as bruxism [ 5 ].…”