Pandemia de Covid-19, dor e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal em mulheres com disfunção temporomandibular

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate and compare pain sensitivity and Oral Health- related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of women with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) before (T1) and during (T2) COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-one woman participants, with ages ranging from 18 to 55 years, diagnosed with painful TMD according to RDC/TMD axis I were included. Subjects were asked to indicate their pain intensity in an eleven-point Numeric Scale and to answer the validated Portuguese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP- 14). Socio-demographic data were also assessed. Participants were evaluated twice - T1 (in person) and T2 (by means of an online form). Data were subjected to statistical analysis with a significance level of 5% (Wilcoxon, chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, multiple linear regressions). Participants mean age was 26.83 ± 7.54. No difference was found in pain sensitivity (T1: 5.95 ± 1.78; T2: 5.42 ± 2.62; p=0.26) and OHIP-14 global scores (T1: 22.27 ± 8.91; T2: 21.07 ± 12.33; p =0.53). Physical pain (T1: 5.17 ± 1.50; T2: 4.22 ± 2.24; p=0.03) and social disability (T1: 3.32 ± 2.36; T2: 2.51 ± 1.87; p=0.05) domains improved. In T1, subject’s occupation was associated with OHIP-14 global score, physical pain, and physical disability domains. In T2, age was associated with OHIP-14 global scores as well as physical pain, psychological discomfort, and psychological disability domains. COVID-19 pandemic did not worsen pain sensitivity and OHRQoL in women with painful TMD, and it is suggested that socio-demographic characteristics influenced TMD patients coping skills during pandemic.