Contributing factors to the development of temporomandibular joint symptoms in a Japanese community‐dwelling population

• Published in: Oral science international 2020-01, Vol.17 (1), p.39-46
• Main Authors: Ishizaki, Hiroshi, Satake, Anna, Fukuda, Haruka, Akiyama, Natsumi, Noguchi, Takao, Osanai, Toshiyuki, Oyama, Toshiaki, Tamura, Yoshihiro, Ito, Ryohei, Kobayashi, Wataru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bruxism; cross‐sectional study; longitudinal study; temporomandibular disorder; temporomandibular symptoms
• ISSN: 1348-8643; 1881-4204
• DOI: 10.1002/osi2.1038

Background Multicausal theories of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) are supported, but no apparent influencing factors except for bruxism have been identified. Objective This study aimed to cross‐sectionally and longitudinally examine the oral environment and mental and psychological status in a general adult Japanese population and elucidate the relationships between these and the development of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms. Materials and methods A total of 1117 individuals who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotional Project in 2016 and 827 individuals who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotional Project in both 2016 and 2017 without prior TMD treatment were included. For the cross‐sectional study, the relationships between the presence of TMJ symptoms and the oral environment and mental and psychological factors were analyzed for the participants in 2016; and for the longitudinal study, factors contributing to the development of TMJ symptoms were analyzed in those who participated in the project both in 2016 and 2017. Results Age, the existence of bruxism, and health‐related quality of life—vitality scores (the vitality scale of the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire)—were significantly associated with the development of TMJ symptoms in the cross‐sectional study, while only bruxism was significantly correlated with the development of TMD in the longitudinal study (odds ratio: 2.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.044‐3.868; P = .037). Conclusions The existence of bruxism was again identified as the only contributing factor in the development of TMD. No involvement of mental and psychological factors was found.