Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders Among Undergraduate Dental Students at the College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al-Zulfi, Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

This study found that nearly half of dental students at Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia experience temporomandibular disorders, with higher rates among clinical students and females.

Contribution

The study provides new prevalence data on TMDs among dental students in Saudi Arabia and identifies risk factors linked to academic training phases and gender.

Findings

50.3% of dental students reported TMD symptoms, with clinical students showing a significantly higher prevalence (69.1%).

Female students reported higher rates of specific TMD symptoms like muscular pain during chewing.

The study recommends educational programs and early intervention to address TMD symptoms in dental students.

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a major cause of nondental pain in the orofacial region. Dental students represent a high-risk group for developing TMDs due to the considerable academic and clinical stressors of their training. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of TMD symptoms and associated factors among dental students at the College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to September 2024. A self-administered electronic questionnaire, adapted from established instruments and validated by an expert, was distributed to all undergraduate dental students (N = 181). The questionnaire collected demographic data and assessed TMD signs and symptoms using a Likert scale. Data from 165 respondents (response rate: 91.2%) were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with statistical significance set at p  < 0.05.

The prevalence of TMD symptoms, based on a defined cutoff score, was 50.3% (83/165). A significantly higher prevalence was observed among clinical-level students (69.1% of the sample) compared to preclinical students (30.9%; p =0.019). Female students also reported significantly higher rates of specific symptoms, such as muscular pain during chewing (p =0.005).

The findings confirm a high prevalence of TMD symptoms among dental students, strongly associated with the advanced clinical phase of training and female gender. We recommend that dental institutions implement educational programs and accessible screening protocols. Students experiencing symptoms, such as pain, clicking sounds, or limited jaw movement should be referred to specialists for early intervention to prevent chronic complications and mitigate the impact on their academic and clinical performance.

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