Temporomandibular joint disorders and Gender differences among habitants of Karachi

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TMDs among the sample of Karachi and to observe the most frequent TMJ sound in this population. Methodology: It was a cross sectional study conducted from Sep 2017 to Nov 2017. Three hundred patients were selected through cluster sample technique from the public/private dental institutes and private dental clinics of Karachi. The data was collected with the help of questionnaire and intraoral examination was performed by the researchers. All those patients with complain of TMDs and between 20-75 years were included in this study. The frequency and association between gender and TMDs were assessed through the application of Chi square. Results: There were more males (n=162, 54%) and (n=138, 46%) females in this study. Majority of participants fall under the age group of 20-30 years of age. Most common TMDs symptom among male was pain during mastication (n=104, 64%) and most common symptoms among female was pain on neck/cervical area which was (n=92, 66%). Headache and earache was the least common symptom among both genders and p-value was 0.003 and 0.024 respectively. Clicking was the most common TMJ sound found among both genders, in male it was (n=58, 35.8%) and in female it was (n=48, 34.7%) followed by crepitation. Regarding parafunctional habits; majority of females (n=95, 68.8%) were in habit of clenching than male (n=60, 37%) and p-value was 0.0001 followed by tooth grinding which was also found mostly in female (n=64, 46.3%) then male (n=10, 6.1%) and p-value was 0.0001. Regarding the risk factors of TMDs; while examination majority of females were found with disturbed articulation,(n= 37,26.8%) and in male it was (n=10, 6.1%), significance difference was found between both genders and p-value was 0.0001. Stress was found to be most common risk factor and aggravating factor of TMDs among both genders. Missing teeth were found in both gender; (n=100, 61.7%) male and (n=71, 51.4%) female and calculated p-value was 0.047. Conclusion: It was inferred from this study that greater prevalence of TMDs was mostly found in female gender. The statistically significant difference was found among stress as an aggravating factor of TMDs and gender. Clicking was the most prevalent TMJ sound and clenching was the most frequently observed parafunctional habit among both gender, followed by tooth grinding and statistically significant difference found among both gender.