Risk Factors for Diagnostic Subgroups of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

TLDR

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) comprise multiple entities that may arise from distinct etiologies. The study aimed to identify risk factors for three diagnostic subgroups of painful TMD. Researchers recruited 97 myofascial‑pain only, 20 arthralgia‑only, 157 combined‑pain, and 195 control subjects, assessed physical and psychological variables, and calculated adjusted odds ratios using multiple logistic regression. Myofascial pain alone was associated with trauma (OR 2.0), clenching (OR 4.8), third‑molar removal (OR 3.2), somatization (OR 3.7), and female gender (OR 4.2), while myofascial pain with arthralgia was linked to trauma (OR 2.1), clenching (OR 3.3), third‑molar removal (OR 4.0), somatization (OR 5.1), and female gender (OR 4.7); no significant associations were found for the arthralgia‑only group.

Abstract

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) encompass several entities, which may have differing etiologies. To test this hypothesis, we investigated risk factors for three diagnostic subgroups of painful TMD. Ninety-seven subjects with myofascial pain only, 20 with arthralgia only, 157 with both myofascial pain and arthralgia, and 195 controls without TMD pain met criteria for study eligibility. Investigated risk factors included both physical and psychological variables. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated by multiple logistic regression analyses. Myofascial pain occurring alone was significantly associated with trauma (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.0), clenching (OR = 4.8), third molar removal (OR = 3.2), somatization (OR = 3.7), and female gender (OR = 4.2). Myofascial pain with arthralgia was significantly associated with trauma (OR = 2.1), clenching (OR = 3.3), third molar removal (OR = 4.0), somatization (OR = 5.1), and female gender (OR = 4.7). No significant associations were found for the small-arthralgia-only group.