Factors Related to Oral Health Related Quality of Life in TMD Patients

The aims of the study were to determine the impact of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) on self-percieved oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) and to compare OHRQoL of patients with TMD with a control group. A total of 81 TMD patients participated in a study group and 400 adults served as the control group. The mean OHIP summary scores were computed for all patients with the same diagnosis and the same subgroup of axis I according to the RDC/TMD exam form. The mean OHIP subscores for all seven domains of the OHIP questionnaire were compared between the study and the control group. The hierarchical linear regression model was used to assess the most important variables according to the RDC/TMD protocol that contribute to OHRQoL in TMD patients with the OHIP summary score as dependent variable. According to this study, TMD had a high association with reduced OHRQoL (p < 0.001). More diagnoses of axis I according to the RDC/TMD protocol (p < 0.001), higher age of TMD patients (p < 0.001) and diagnoses associated with limited jaw movements contributed to more impaired OHRQoL (p = 0.008 and p = 0.030, respectively). Female TMD patients had no significantly different OHRQoL compared to male patients (p = 0.436). According to regression analysis, higher age (p < 0.001), more physical diagnoses (p = 0.018) and diagnosis Ib (p = 0.169) explained 39.1% of the variability (p < 0.001) of the OHIP summary score in TMD patients.