Incidence and Clinical Presentation of Temporo-Mandibular Joint Disorders and their Association with Psychological Distress and Para-Functional Habits in a Non-Patient Population

Purpose The study aims at finding the incidence of temporo-mandibular joint disorders (TMDs) in a non-patient population and relates their association with psychological distress and parafunctional habits. Materials and Methods A DC/TMD questionnaire and DASS-21 scale survey were completed by selected participants followed by clinical examination of TMDs symptoms in sample population. Results A study sample of 855 participants revealed 36.65% population with various TMDs symptoms, while 63.5% population had no TMDs symptoms. 50.8% study participants were men, and 49.2% were women. Of all affected population, 16.2% had pain-related TMDs, 12.39% had intra-articular TMDs symptoms, and 8.07% had TMJ pain associated with pain or dysfunction. For all TMDs symptoms groups, the strongest correlations were for depression, while no significant associations were observed with parafunctional habits in all groups. Conclusions Overall psychological distress and anxiety increased the prospects of TMDs symptoms. Clinical factors like muscle tenderness, crossbite and deep vertical overlap seem to be significant etiological factors, while angle molar relationship and parafunctional habits do not seem to be significant etiologic factors in TMDs.