The association between temporomandibular disorders signs and symptoms, bruxism, and health variables: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the associations between several important and potentially modifiable health variables and TMD signs and symptoms.

Methods: A total of 209 adult dental patients from two clinics completed surveys on demographics, self-reported awake and sleep bruxism, TMD signs and symptoms, stress, depression, chronic pain, and sleep quality. Correlations and regression analyses were used to identify associations between these health variables and TMD symptoms.

Results: Awake bruxism was significantly associated with chronic pain intensity, jaw pain, clenching pain, and headaches. Stress and depression correlated with chronic pain intensity and clenching pain. No correlation was found between BMI and TMD symptoms. In multivariate analysis, both awake and sleep bruxism were associated with TMD symptoms, while sleep quality was related to pain on chewing and depression was associated with chronic pain intensity.

Conclusions: Identifying these associations can guide clinicians in assessing, educating and managing TMD-related issues by addressing bruxism, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms.