clin dent res

Clinical Dentistry and Research

2146-3972

Hacettepe University

Prosthodontics

Protez

Prevalence and Severity of Temporomandibular Disorders among the Turkish Dental Students Using Fonseca's Anamnestic Index

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7237-195X

Akarca

Elif Melike

DENTAKAY DENTAL CLİNİC

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0350-6831

Karabulut Açıkgöz

Tuğçe

Zonguldak Oral and Dental Health Center

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6392-2916

Senyilmaz

Dilek

OKAN UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF DENTISTRY

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0485-361X

Canay

Senay

HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, DİŞ HEKİMLİĞİ FAKÜLTESİ

08 28 2025

49 2 110 118 07 07 2025 08 13 2025

Background & Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) among 1533 dental students at a Turkish state university using Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index (FAI). It also examined the association of TMD symptoms with gender and academic year to support early recognition and awareness of TMDs in dental students. Methods: A total of 1533 dental students were asked to fill Fonseca's questionnaire. The results were analyzed for students from first grade to fifth grade, and the percentage values were compared between males and females, in different levels of education and presence of TMDs.Results: The results showed that 58.6 % of the subjects exhibited some degree of TMD. Women were the most affected group, with 62.6 % showing some level of TMD, against 37.4 % of men. A statistically significant difference was found between education and TMJ status (p < 0.001). The probability of TMD was 36.7 % in the first grade, 46 % in the second grade, 65.5 % in the third grade, 79.6 % in the fourth grade and 82.3 % in the fifth grade. It was observed that the probability of TMD increased as the education level increased. Students with any level of TMD showed certain features such as: 73 % of women and 66.8 % male subjects described themselves as tense people; 74.5% of female subjects complained from neck pain. Women subjects experienced headache 1.566 times more than men (p

temporomandibular disorder Fonseca’s questionnaire pain dental students

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