The influence of emotional stress as an etiological factor in anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint
Abstract
Background: Disc displacement (DD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the intracapsular TMJ disorders (TMD). It is a pathological condition in which the articular disc is out of its physiological position, most often anteriorly. Several etiological factors are usually involved simultaneously in the development of temporomandibular DD (multifactorial theory). The aim of our study was to investigate the role of emotional stress in the etiological factors of temporomandibular anterior DD.
Methods: The cohort consisted of 832 patients (164 males, 668 females, mean age 33.1 years) who attended the clinic for TMD between 2015 and 2018 and were diagnosed with temporomandibular anterior DD (with and without reduction). All patients were diagnosed by clinical examination and the diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound examination (Mindray DP-50, 7.5 MHz, Shenzen Mindray Bio-medical Electronics).
Results: 360 (43%) patients (59 males, 301 females, mean age 34.8 years) reported increased emotional stress or were taking antidepressants or anxiolytics. 472 (57%) patients (107 males, 365 females, mean age 31.8 years) did not report increased emotional stress or were not taking antidepressants or anxiolytics. Patients with increased emotional stress: overall mean age 34.8 years (male mean age 36.1 years, female mean age 34.6 years). Patients without increased emotional stress: overall mean age 31.8 years (male mean age 30.8 years, female mean age 32.1 years).
Conclusion: The results support the theory of emotional stress as an etiological factor in anterior DD of TMJ. However, its prevalence is lower than generally reported for extracapsular TMD. Increased emotional stress was more common in females than in males.