The Relationship of Functional Limitations and Disability with Clinical Symptoms in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study

Abstract

Objective: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a mus- culoskeletal disease, especially when it becomes chronic, may result in functional limitation and disability. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between functional limitation and disability with so- ciodemographic characteristics and clinical symptoms in patients with TMD. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional, clinical study was conducted on patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs (DC/TMD) in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic of a university. In clinical ex- amination, the patients were evaluated in terms of pain, maximum mouth opening (MMO) and joint sounds (click, crepitus). Functional limitation was evaluated with Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20), and disability status was evaluated with Temporomandibu- lar Disability Index (TDI). Results: 381 TMD patients (318 females, 63 males) were included in the study. JFLS-20 and TDI scores signifi- cantly increased as participants' MMO decreased and TMJ pain level in- creased (p<0.001). Those with joint noise complaints such as clicking and crepitation had higher JFLS-20 and TDI scores than those without (p<0.001). In addition, a strong correlation was observed between the MMO, pain, values of the JFLS-20, and TDI scores.Conclusion: Clin- ical symptoms in TMD patients are closely related to functional limi- tation and disability. Worsening of clinical symptoms in TMD patients causes an increase in functional limitation and disability.