Temporomandibular disorders symptoms in Asian adolescents and their association with sleep quality and psychological distress.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) symptoms and their association with sleep quality and psychological distress in Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

Five hundred seventy-eight adolescents were enrolled in the study and completed a self-reported TMD symptom questionnaire and socio-demographics survey. Sleep quality and psychological distress were assessed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed with TMD symptoms as the outcome variable.

RESULTS

The prevalence of adolescents with at least one TMD symptom was 61.4%. One-third of subjects experienced disturbed sleep, depression, and stress; 65.2% experienced anxiety. Subjects with TMD symptoms had greater psychological distress and disturbed sleep than those who were symptom-free. Logistic regression analysis showed that sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction and anxiety were significantly related to TMD symptoms.

DISCUSSION: The prevalence of TMD symptoms in Asian adolescents is high. Disturbed sleep and psychological distress are correlated with TMD; thus, a further longitudinal research of the causality is warranted.