Prevalence of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders and Correlation to Lifestyle Factors among Adolescents in Norway

Abstract EN

Aim.

To estimate the prevalence of painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD-P) among adolescents and to investigate correlations with health, environment, and lifestyle factors.

Methods.

For this cross-sectional case-control study, 562 patients were consecutively recruited at their yearly revision control from four dental clinics in Rogaland County, Norway.

Patients completed a questionnaire on general health, socioeconomics, demographics, and lifestyle factors.

Responses to two screening questions identified patients with TMD-P, who then underwent clinical examination to verify the TMD diagnosis.

Pain intensity was assessed on a visual analogue scale.

Patients without TMD-P constituted the control group and were not clinically examined.

Results.

7% experienced TMD-P.

The female-to-male ratio is 3:1; median age is 17 years.

Patients at urban clinics had higher prevalence compared with those at rural clinics.

TMD-P patients had headache and severe menstrual pain compared to controls.

They were more likely to live with divorced/single parents and less likely to have regular physical activity.

Myalgia was present in 21 patients with TMD-P, arthralgia in nine, and myalgia and arthralgia in nine.

Females had higher pain intensity than males.

Conclusions.

A low prevalence of TMD-P was shown but was comparable to other studies.

Sex, health, lifestyle, and environment factors were associated with TMD-P.