The relation of temporomandibular disorders with oral health-related quality of life in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in an adult population.

Methods: The data included 1,768 adults 46 years of age in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) study. The symptoms, signs and diagnoses of TMD were assessed using a modified protocol of the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) and validated questionnaires. OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Associations of TMD and OHRQoL were evaluated with χ -test and Fisher's exact test.

Results: In females, pain-related TMD signs and diagnoses associated significantly with prevalence of OHIP total and all dimensions, whereas in joint-related TMD, psychological dimensions showed the strongest association. Males with pain- or joint-related TMD, the most impaired dimension was physical pain.

Conclusion: Pain-related TMD seems to associate more strongly with lower OHRQoL than joint-related TMD especially in females.