Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders and Their Association with Stress Among Healthcare Students at Taibah University

Felemban, Doaa; Ayed, Yosra; Kaaki, Muhannad; Zain Alabdeen, Ebtihal; Alhodhodi, Aishah; Mirah, Mahir; Alturki, Khalid; Abdalbari, Mai; Gamar Elanbya, May; Elsayed, Shadia A.

doi:10.21608/asdj.2025.354265.1807

Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders and Their Association with Stress Among Healthcare Students at Taibah University

Document Type : Original articles

Authors

¹ College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.

² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.

³ Department of restorative dental sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.

⁴ Dental student, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.

⁵ Department of preventive science, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.

10.21608/asdj.2025.354265.1807

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of TMDs and the degree of stress experienced by these students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 281 health college students at Taibah University. Data were collected using Google Forms questionnaires to assess students' stress levels, stressors, and the prevalence and severity of TMDs. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.
Results: The highest prevalence of mild TMDs was among first-year students (58.3%), decreasing. Severe TMD were rare, with the highest occurrence in the sixth year (2.5%). Pharmacy students had the highest prevalence of mild TMDs (46.2%), while dental students had the highest prevalence of moderate TMDs (15.5%). Females were significantly more affected by mild to moderate TMDs than males (P=0.002). The association between stress levels and TMD severity across study variables was insignificant (P≥0.05).
Conclusion: Although there was no significant association between stress levels and the severity of TMD symptoms across the research variables including college type, and college level; however students studying dentistry are most likely to experience moderate TMDs (15.5%), which may be related to the ergonomic and physical demands of dental school. Although severe TMDs are uncommon, nursing students have the greatest rate of severe TMDs (4.3%).

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