Global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and history of jaw injury related to temporomandibular joint symptoms in Korean adults.

AIMS: To examine the association between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms and the global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and a history of jaw injury or third molar extraction in a representative Korean population.

METHODS: From the Korean National Oral Health Survey 2006, 4,546 adults aged 18 years and older were included in the analysis. The dependent variable was TMJ symptoms. The independent variables were the global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and a history of jaw injury or third molar extraction. The demographic information (age and gender), socioeconomic status (education level, monthly household income, vocation, and residence), and behavioral factors (recent dental visit and smoking) were evaluated as confounders. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were applied.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of TMJ symptoms in Koreans was 15.3%. The younger, more educated, middle class, those employed in office and sales, and those who resided in city areas had more TMJ symptoms. The TMJ symptoms were significantly associated with the global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and history of jaw injury. No significant association was found between the TMJ symptoms and a history of a third molar extraction. The global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and history of jaw injury had a dose-effect relationship with the severity of TMJ symptoms. Age and gender modified the effect of the global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and the history of jaw injury on TMJ symptoms.

CONCLUSION: The global self-rating of oral health, concerns about oral health, and a history of jaw injury might be associated with TMJ symptoms.