Application of an oral health-related quality of life questionnaire in primary care patients with orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

Objectives: To examine whether patients who report orofacial pain (OP) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have a poorer perception of their oral health-related quality of life and, if so, to what extent, and to analyze the association between oral health perception, sociodemographic variables and reported pain duration. Study Design: 407 patients treated at the OP and TMD units in the Healthcare District of Cordoba, Spain, diagnosed following the standard criteria accepted by the scientific community – the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) – were administered the Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14). Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the degree of association between the patients’ OHIP-14 score and pain duration, pain intensity, and various sociodemographic variables. Results: The observed distribution was 89.4% women and 10.6% men. The mean OHIP-14 score was 20.57 ± 10.73 (mean ± standard deviation). A significant association (p<0.05) was found for gender, age, marital status, chronic pain grade, self-perceived oral health status and pain duration. Conclusions: The analysis of self-perceived oral health status in patients with OP and TMD, as measured by the OHIP-14, showed that oral health is perceived more negatively by women. Moreover, a one-point increase in the Chronic Pain Grade indicator increases the OHIP-14 indicator by 4.6 points, while chronic pain, defined as pain suffered by patients for one year or more, increases the OHIP-14 indicator by 3.2 points. Key words:Orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, Oral Health Impact Profile, sociodemographic variables, primary care, Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD).

Prevalence and characteristics of orofacial pain in university students

“…Involvement in a romantic relationship may affect the prevalence of orofacial pain; however, our data show that relationship status did not significantly affect pain prevalence, in contrast to previous findings (20).…”

Uso da radiografia transcraniana para detectar alterações morfológicas no côndilo mandibular

“…The annual cost related to TMD treatment in the USA, not including imaging exams, has doubled over the past decade, reaching nearly US$4 billion 2,35 . Thus, due to the cost and high prevalence of TMD, it is crucial that these problems be assessed in specific primary healthcare units, using a standardized clinical exam and a diagnostic protocol 1,2,5,7,8 . For this to occur, complementary exams must have an accessible cost without a loss in the quality of data, so that they can be considered in the complex system of public funding.…”

“…TMDs are associated with one's quality of life, presenting a positive correlation between the severity of the temporomandibular dysfunction and the negative impact upon one's quality of life [4][5][6][7][8] .…”

“…Some studies indicate a prevalence of 5-12% 2,10,11 , while others have shown that nearly 40-60% of the general population can present the symptoms and signs of TMD 9 , but only a small percentage of these affected individuals actually seek treatment 1,12 , This diversity of results concerning prevalence stems from the wide range of methodologies used in studies, especially as regards the sample selection criteria and the lack of standardization related to TMD diagnoses 12,13 . As regards gender, it is estimated that TMD is more prevalent in women than in men 1,7,10 .…”

“…TMDs can also affect the ears, eyes, and throat. Patients commonly report headaches that involve part or all of the head (frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital) and neck 1,2,[5][6][7]15 . TMD diagnosis is based on the patient's medical history, in the clinical exam, and in the evaluation of the imaging exam [1][2][3]14,16 .…”