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Anxiety Promotes Occlusal Interference-Induced Myalgia via the Mesolimbic System.

Y J Zhang^1,2,3,4,5,6, Y Li^1,2,3,4,5,6, S Y Mo^1,2,3,4,5,6

¹Department of Prosthodontics, Center for Oral and Jaw Functional Diagnosis, Treatment and Research, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.

Journal of Dental Research

|October 17, 2025

Summary

High anxiety levels exacerbate jaw muscle pain caused by dental occlusion issues. The ventral tegmental area, involved in anxiety and pain pathways, plays a key role in this pain facilitation.

Keywords:

dental occlusion dopaminergic neurons masticatory muscles pain ventral tegmental area

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Published on: November 26, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Pain Research
Dental Research

Background:

Occlusal interference can lead to chronic masticatory myalgia.
Factors predisposing individuals to this condition are not fully understood.
Anxiety is known to influence pain perception.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if anxiety levels affect masticatory myalgia induced by occlusal interference.
To explore the role of the ventral tegmental area in this interaction.

Main Methods:

Quantified anxiety levels in rats using the elevated plus maze.
Applied experimental occlusal interference to induce masseter muscle hypersensitivity.
Utilized immunofluorescence and electrophysiology to examine ventral tegmental area activity.
Performed chemogenetic manipulation of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

Main Results:

High anxiety levels in rats amplified mechanical hypersensitivity in the masseter muscle after occlusal interference.
Differences in dopaminergic neuron activity and low-frequency oscillations were observed in the ventral tegmental area based on anxiety levels.
Modulating ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons affected anxiety's facilitation of pain.

Conclusions:

Anxiety can facilitate the development of masticatory myalgia induced by occlusal interference.
The ventral tegmental area is critically involved in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this anxiety-pain interaction.