Evaluation of the relationship between TMD pain and toothache and dental anxiety

Abstract

Aims: The aims of the study were to evaluate the relationship between pain experienced and dental anxiety in patients presenting to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery with tootache and TMD pain. Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted on patients who applied to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic between January and June 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the reason for visiting the clinic. Patients in group 1 had toothache and patients in group 2 had temporomandibular disorder pain. Pain was assessed by VAS and dental anxiety by MDAS. The statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: Of the 108 patients included in the study, 56 were female and 52 were male, and the mean age was 34.71±14.66 years. It was found that the VAS scores were negatively and weakly correlated with age (r=-0.203, p=0.035), there was a positive and weak correlation between the patients’ VAS and MDAS scores (r=0.265, p=0.006), and the VAS scores of the patients with toothache were higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that individuals presenting to the clinic with toothache had higher pain levels. It was found that as patients pain levels increased, so did their dental anxiety scores.

Keywords

• Temporomandibular disorders
• pain
• toothache
• TMD pain

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research (Decision No: 2022/09-02).

References

1. Appukuttan DP. Strategies to manage patients with dental anxiety and dental phobia: literature review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2016:35-50.
2. Sadi H, Finkelman M, Rosenberg M. Salivary cortisol, salivary alpha amylase, and the dental anxiety scale. Anesth Prog. 2013; 60(2):46-53.
3. Wardle J. Fear of dentistry. Br J Med Psychol. 1982;55(2):119-126.
4. Aartman IH. Reliability and validity of the short version of the dental anxiety inventory. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1998;26(5):350-354.
5. Moore R, Birn H, Kirkegaard E, Brødsgaard I, Scheutz F. Prevalence and characteristics of dental anxiety in Danish adults. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1993;21(5):292-296.
6. Locker D, Liddell A. Correlates of dental anxiety among older adults. J Dent Res. 1991;70(3):198-203.
7. Berggren U. General and specific fears in referred and self-referred adult patients with extreme dental anxiety. Behav Res Ther. 1992;30(4):395-401.
8. Ng SK, Leung WK. A community study on the relationship of dental anxiety with oral health status and oral health related quality of life. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2008;36(4):347-356.

9. Oklješa I, Galić N, Šegović S, Pavelić B, Filipović-Zore I, Anić I. The prevalence and type of pain in dental patients. Acta Stomatol Croat Int J Oral Sci Dent Med. 2004;38(1):7-12.
10. Kikwilu EN, Frencken JE, Mulder J. Utilization of toothpaste and fluoride content in toothpaste manufactured in Tanzania. Acta Odontol Scand. 2008;66(5):293-299.
11. Ristikankare M, Hartikainen J, Heikkinen M, Janatuinen E, Julkunen R. The effects of gender and age on the colonoscopic examination. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2001;32(1):69-75.
12. Varenne B, Msellati P, Zoungrana C, Fournet F, Salem G. Reasons for attending dental-care services in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Bull World Health Organ. 2005;83:650-655.
13. Dou L, Vanschaayk MM, Zhang Y, Fu X, Ji P, Yang D. The prevalence of dental anxiety and its association with pain and other variables among adult patients with irreversible pulpitis. BMC Oral Health. 2018;18:1-6.
14. Naidu R, Lalwah S. Dental anxiety in a sample of West Indian adults. West Indian Med J. West Indian Med J. 2010;59(5):567-572.
15. De Jongh A, Adair P, Meijerink-Anderson M. Clinical management of dental anxiety: what works for whom? Int Dent J. 2005;55(2):73-80.
16. Sanikop S, Agrawal P, Patil S. Relationship between dental anxiety and pain perception during scaling. J Oral Sci. 2011;53(3): 341-348.
17. Ahmad M, Tan WW. Dental anxiety among Wisma Lincoln University College community. IIUM J Orofac Health Sci. 2021; 2(2):27-32.
18. Milgrom P, Fiset L, Melnick S, Weinstein P. The prevalence and practice management consequences of dental fear in a major US city. J Am Dent Assoc. 1988;116(6):641-647.
19. ME S. Prevalence of dental anxiety in The Netherlands. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1990;18:139-142.
20. Roy-Byrne PP, Milgrom P, Khoon-Mei T, Weinstein P, Katon W. Psychopathology and psychiatric diagnosis in subjects with dental phobia. J Anxiety Disord. 1994;8(1):19-31.
21. Kvale G, Raadal M, Vika M, et al. Treatment of dental anxiety disorders. Outcome related to DSM IV diagnoses. Eur J Oral Sci. 2002;110(2):69-74.
22. Corah NL. Development of a dental anxiety scale. J Dent Res. 1969;48(4):596-596.
23. Sardar KP, Raza I, Shafi M. Dental anxiety level in patients attending dental outpatient department at Dow University of Health Sciences. J Pak Dent Assoc. 2015;24(3):145-151.
24. Sinha E, Rekha R, Nagashree S. Anxiety of dental treatment among patients visiting primary health centers. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent. 2019;17(3):235-245.
25. Ürer ÇŞ, Yıldırım Ö, Işık B, Şimşek MB. Gazi Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi Ağız Diş ve Çene Cerrahisi Kliniği’ne ağrı yakınması ile başvuran hastalarda kişilik özellikleri ve diş tedavi deneyimleri ile ağrı algısı arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi. ADO Klin Bilim Derg. 2022;11(2):132-139.
26. Ogbebor OG, Azodo CC. Reasons for seeking dental healthcare services in a Nigerian missionary hospital. Sahel Med J. 2016; 19(1):38.
27. Akaji E, Chukwuneke F, Okeke U. Attendance pattern amongst patients at the Dental Clinic of the University of Nigeria. Niger J Med. 2012;21(1):74-77.
28. Dikmen PY, Aysevener EO, Aydinlar EL, Karlikaya G. Elektromiyografide ağrı ve emosyonel durum ilişkisi. Arch Neuropsychiatry/Noropsikiyatri Arşivi. 2012;49(1):48-52.
29. Frot M, Feine JS, Bushnell MC. Sex differences in pain perception and anxiety. A psychophysical study with topical capsaicin. Pain. 2004;108(3):230-236.
30. Thibodeau MA, Welch PG, Katz J, Asmundson GJ. Pain-related anxiety influences pain perception differently in men and women: a quantitative sensory test across thermal pain modalities. PAIN®. 2013;154(3):419-426.