Relationship between anxiety and temporomandibular disorders in dental students.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in dental students and its correlation with anxiety.

METHODS: After probability sampling, 105 students were selected. The diagnosis of TMD was carried out using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) - Axis I; the anxiety level was obtained by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data from TMD and anxiety were calculated through frequency and Chi-square test to assess the association between TMD and anxiety, considering a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS: TMD was present in 36.2% of the students; disc displacement (42.1%), and arthralgia (42.1%) were the most prevalent subtypes. The majority of students presented both traits (57.1%) and state (65.7%) anxiety in mild levels, followed by moderate levels. No statistical association between TMD and anxiety was found (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Joint TMD was the most prevalent subtype of TMD in dental students and was not associated with anxiety levels.