Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate whether an association exists between the presence of TMD symptoms and the degree of MS-related disability.
Materials and methods: In all, 120 individuals were evaluated: 60 patients with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS and 60 age- and sex-matched controls without neurological impairments. A questionnaire recommended by the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders for the assessment of TMD symptoms was administered. For those who answered affirmatively to at least one of the questions, the RDC/TMD Axis I instrument was used for a possible classification of TMD subtypes. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was the measure of the degree of MS-related disability.
Statistical analysis used: Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the data. ANOVA was used to detect significant differences between means and to assess whether the factors influenced any of the dependent variables by comparing means from the different groups.
Results: The prevalence of TMD symptoms in patients with MS was 61.7% versus 18.3% in the control group (CG). A diagnosis of TMD was established for 36.7% in the MS group and 3.3% in the CG (P = 0.0001). There were statistically significant differences between degrees of MS-related disability and the prevalence of TMD (P = 0.0288).
Conclusions: The prevalence of both TMD and TMD symptoms was significantly greater in the MS group. EDSS scores and TMD prevalence rates were inversely related.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; orofacial pain; temporomandibular disorder.