The Association between Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Lumbar Diseases in Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders and lumbar diseases in adults when the prevalence rate of osteoarthritis is increasing and to help develop health policies that can improve oral health and health in general. The study used representative data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey phase 3 (2012). In total, we analyzed the data of 3,017 individuals aged over 50 years who participated in the health-related survey and underwent radiography of the lumbar joints. PASW statistics ver. 18.0 was used for analysis. This study revealed the following results: 16.1% experienced at least one symptom of temporomandibular joint disorders within the recent single year, 20.6% experienced lower back pain in the recent three months, and 30.6% had lumbar osteoarthritis revealed using radiography of the lumbar joints. Symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders, lower back pain, and lumbar osteoarthritis were correlated with each other; the respondents who experienced symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders had 1.70 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30∼2.22) higher prevalence of lower back pain and 1.20 times (95% CI, 0.86∼1.68) higher prevalence of lumbar osteoarthritis than in those with no such difficulties. The results of this study confirmed that the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders affected lumbar diseases in adulthood. Therefore, adequate treatment and prevention of the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders in adults is expected to make crucial contributions to decreases in the prevalence rate of lumbar diseases and an improvement in the quality of life.