The Relationship Between Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Headaches Among Students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Iran

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are dysfunctions of the temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles accompanied by facial discomfort and pain. This study aimed to clarify the association between TMD and headache among the dental students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students at different levels of education at Islamic Azad University of Tabriz in ۲۰۲۴. The main measurement of the study was to determine the frequency of headache and TMD and the association between headache and TMD among the participants. Secondary measures were examining the association between demographic characteristics and personal habits with headache and TMD. The required information was collected using a self-designed questionnaire. The Fonseca’s questionnaire was used for the evaluation of TMD. A P value of<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of ۱۳۱ participants (۶۹ females and ۶۲ males) with a mean age of ۲۳.۱۵±۱.۵ (range: ۱۹.۲–۳۱.۵) years, enrolled in the survey. Half of the students (۵۱.۱۴%) had a history of headache. Of these, ۲۶ (۱۹.۸۵%) reported migraine headaches. Most participants (۶۸%) had at least one of the symptoms of TMD. The most common symptoms associated with TMD were sleep bruxism (۲۵.۹۵%), neck pain (۲۴.۴۳%), clicking (۲۲.۱۴%), and migraine headache (۱۹.۸۵%), respectively. There was a significant relationship between migraine headaches and TMD (P=۰.۰۵). There was no statistically significant difference between the history of non-migraine headaches and TMD (P=۰.۲۵). The frequency of TMD was higher in girls (P=۰.۰۳۵). There was a significant relationship between anxious personality and TMD (P=۰.۰۰۴). Conclusion: The prevalence of headache and TMD among dental students of Islamic Azad University of Tabriz was high. The most prevalent symptoms associated with TMD were sleep bruxism, neck pain, and clicking, respectively. In confirmation of previous findings, migraine headache was associated with TMD. There was no relationship between non-migraine headache and TMD. Girls and those with anxious personalities were more likely to have TMD.