Self-Reported Mandibular Impairment and Cervical Pain Comorbidity in Undergraduate Dental Students

• Published in: Oral (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 2; no. 4; pp. 286 - 292
• Main Authors: Arcas, Luciana Paula Benício, Pinto, Letícia Messias Marques, Moromizato, Ana Laura Sebben Fornari, Miranda, Jean Soares, Tribst, João Paulo Mendes, Amaral, Marina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palermo MDPI AG 01-12-2022
• Subjects: Comorbidity; dental students; Dentistry; Dentists; diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular joint disorder; headaches; Manipulative therapy; Neck pain; Nervous system; Orthodontics; perceived stress scale; Posture; Questionnaires; Self report; Students; Temporomandibular joint disorders
• ISSN: 2673-6373; 2673-6373
• DOI: 10.3390/oral2040027

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of co-existence of self-reported mandibular functional impairment and cervical pain in the same individuals. Participants answered a validated Mandibular Functional Impairment Questionnaire (MFIQ) and also indicated in a schematic map the region of cervical pain when it was reported. The frequency of cervical pain in participants with or without mandibular functional was compared with Chi-squared test. The final evaluated population consisted of 80 participants, 28 men (35%) and 52 women (65%), with ages ranging between 18 and 55 years (median = 20). It was found that 43.75% (n = 35) reported cervical pain, 15% of participants reported some degree of mandibular impairment, and 11.25% presented the comorbidity. In conclusion, participants with mandibular impairment presented significantly more frequent cervical pain than participants without mandibular impairment.