Dental treatment as perceived etiology of temporomandibular disorders

Objective: To characterize patients who believe their temporomandibular disorders (TMD) symptoms are caused by their prior dental treatment. Methods: A sample of 337 patients were selected and classified into dental treatment-related and non-dental treatment-related groups, according to their personal belief of their TMD etiology. The relationship between patients' perceived etiology and patient characterization was analyzed using Chi-square and t-test. Results: One-hundred and thirty-one patients perceived that the cause of their TMD was dental-related. Within this group, 27.5% of the 131 patients considered that their TMD was specifically caused by prior dental treatment. These patients possessed significantly greater disability (self-reported work disability, family interference, and higher level of depression) compared to the patients who did not believe their TMD was caused by dental treatment. Conclusion: Dentists should recognize that their dental treatments could possibly be the cause of patients' TMD symptoms, according to patients' beliefs.