Decoding Chronic Jaw Pain: Key Nature of Temporomandibular Disorders in Slovak Patients

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects the jaw joint and muscles, causing pain, jaw movement issues and symptoms like clicking sounds. More common in women, TMD is linked to factors like stress, bruxism and posture. It often coexists with headaches and neck pain, with causes being a mix of physical and psychological factors. Therefore, we decided to examine Slovak patients with TMD to better understand their specific experiences. Methods: Patients with TMD were recruited from the Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Slovakia from 2017 to 2024, resulting in a sample of 380 patients. Inclusion criteria required adults aged 18–90 with TMD symptoms, such as jaw pain and movement difficulties, diagnosed by a maxillofacial surgeon. Patients completed paper-based questionnaires on background information; TMD characteristics and symptoms; and medical history, psychological factors and prior treatment. Results: We confirm that TMD predominantly affects female patients (81.1%) and tends to be a chronic condition, with 58.6% of patients having experienced it for over 6 months. A significant proportion reported moderate to severe pain (42–26.4%) and nearly half (43.7%) experienced constant pain. Movement-triggered pain was common (67.8%), and most patients reported sound phenomena (96.9%) and difficulty opening the mouth (65.6%). Stress played a significant role, with 43.7% of patients experiencing a higher emotional burden and 32.4% reporting stress-related worsening of symptoms. Additionally, 46.3% of patients worked in sedentary environments, potentially contributing to their condition. Conclusion: Most Slovak TMD patients experience multidimensional interplay of physical, psychological and social factors.