Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders in Dental House Officers of Pakistan & Its Association with Biopsychosocial Factors- A Retrospective Study

Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders & Association with Biopsychosocial Factors

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular disorders have high prevalence, particularly in dental graduates. They have a biopsychosocial model of pathogenesis, with gender, financial status, working conditions having possible associations. Fonseca Anamnestic Index is a useful tool for assessment of presence of TMD. Objective: To assess prevalence of TMDs in dental house officers of Pakistan and to evaluate the association of TMDs with biopsychosocial factors such as gender, pay status, house job in public or private sector. Study Design: cross sectional study. Settings: Department of Prosthodontics, institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical & Dental Collage, Lahore, Pakistan. Duration: One year from February 2023 to February 2024. Methods: Data was collected via online validated forms, from 550 dental house officers, working in public and private sector, in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Questions included gender, age, month, and department of house job, pay status and whether house job was in public or private sector. TMD status was evaluated via Fonseca Anamnestic Index. 520 responses were collected and analysed using SPSS 23.0. Results: Prevalence of TMDs was 61.1% out of which 43 % had mild TMD, 20% had moderate TMD and 3.1% had severe TMD.  Higher, albeit statistically non-significant, prevalence was found in females, unpaid house officers and those working in public sector. Conclusion: There is high prevalence of TMDs in dental house officers in major cities of Pakistan. Association of TMD with gender, pay status, and public/private sector remains inconclusive but higher prevalence of TMDs in females, unpaid, and public sector dental house officers mandates further investigation behind causative factors, and implementation of policies to ensure paid house jobs and progressive development of healthcare system, particularly in public sector.