Temporomandibular joint related painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, headache, and psychosocial factors among non-patients

• Published in: Acta odontologica Scandinavica Vol. 61; no. 4; p. 217
• Main Authors: Rantala, Mikko A I, Ahlberg, Jari, Suvinen, Tuija I, Nissinen, Maunu, Lindholm, Harri, Savolainen, Aslak, Könönen, Mauno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-08-2003
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Facial Pain - psychology; Female; Headache - psychology; Health Behavior; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Male; Middle Aged; Neck Pain - psychology; Occupational Diseases - psychology; Range of Motion, Articular; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Somatoform Disorders - psychology; Stress, Psychological - complications; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome - psychology; Workload
• ISSN: 0001-6357
• DOI: 10.1080/00016350310004089

The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular joint related (TMJ) painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, and headache in a Finnish working population and to evaluate the association of the symptoms with psychosocial factors. A self-administered postal questionnaire concerning items on demographic background, employment details, perceived general state of health, medication, psychosocial status, and use of health-care services, was mailed to all employees with at least 5 years at their current job. The questionnaire was completed by 1339 subjects (75%). Frequent (often or continual) TMJ-related painless symptoms were found in 10%, orofacial pain in 7%, neck pain in 39%, and headache in 15% of subjects. Females reported all pain symptoms significantly more often than men (P < 0.001). Frequent pain and TMJ-related symptoms were significantly associated with self-reported stress, depression, and somatization (P < 0.001). Perceived poor general state of health (P < 0.001), health care visits (P < 0.001), overload at work (P < 0.001), life satisfaction (P < 0.05), and work satisfaction (P < 0.05) were also significantly associated with pain symptoms, but the work duty was not (P > 0.05). Our findings are in accordance with earlier studies and confirm the strong relationship between neck pain, headache, orofacial pain. TMJ-related painless symptoms, and psychosocial factors. Furthermore, TMJ-related symptoms and painful conditions seem to be more associated with work-related psychosocial factors than with type of work itself.