Qualitative and quantitative assessment of headaches in people with temporomandibular joint disorders: A pilot study

Headaches (HAs) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) are common comorbidities, and the presence of one of them in a patient increases the incidence of the other. The relationship between these 2 conditions may involve common pathophysiological processes. Considering the topicality of the problem, it is justified to conduct research in this field. In this study, we assessed HA type and severity in people with TMD.

The aim of the study was to conduct qualitative and quantitative assessments of HAs in people with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

The study group consisted of 51 subjects of both sexes with a TMD diagnosed using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) test. A self-report questionnaire was utilized to self-assess the presence of TMD symptoms, while the standardized Short-Form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to qualitatively and quantitatively assess HAs.

People with TMD were significantly more likely to report HA occurrences (p < 0.001). Pain intensity was statistically significantly higher among individuals with TMD compared to those without TMD symptoms (p < 0.001). Most often, the HA was associated with a pressing pain (r = 0.82) and least often, it was described as cutting (r = 0.30). Neck and shoulder girdle pain (p = 0.059; 82.9%) and clenching and/or grinding of teeth (p = 0.021; 92.7%) were significantly more common among patients who declared HAs than among those without HAs. The results obtained so far may indicate a significant relationship between HA and TMD.

We have described the relationship between the occurrence of HAs and TMD. Headaches are more frequent and more severe in people with TMD.