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

Abstract

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.