Temporomandibular Dysfunction Affects Neck Disability, Headache, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is associated with the stomatognathic system, encompassing the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joint, and the cranio-cervical system. This study aims to compare neck disability, headache, anxiety, and sleep quality between women with TMD and asymptomatic women. Additionally, the research seeks to explore the relationship between symptom severity and jaw pain, neck insufficiency, headache, sleep quality, and anxiety in women with TMD.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled women aged 18 to 65 years, comprising 83 healthy women and 129 women with TMD. The study is registered as a clinical trial on the Clinical Trials platform with the identifier NCT0494820. TMD assessment utilized the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) while evaluating TMD severity, jaw pain, neck disability, anxiety, headache, and sleep quality.
Results: It was observed that women in the TMD group exhibited higher occurrences of bruxism and tinnitus. In comparison to the control group, the TMD group demonstrated elevated FAI scores, increased jaw pain, neck disability, headache, and anxiety, along with decreased sleep quality. Within the TMD group, the FAI score exhibited significant associations with jaw pain, neck disability, headache, anxiety, and sleep quality (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In summary, when evaluating individuals with TMD, it is imperative for therapists to meticulously examine adjacent structures and consider influential factors from a holistic perspective.