Study of the Correlation Between Parafunctional Habits and Central Sensitization Symptoms in individuals with Painful Temporomandibular Disorders

• Grant number: 24/10115-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Giovana Fernandes
• Grantee: Isabella Daldon de Oliveira Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Oral behaviors are considered contributing factors to the onset and persistence of painful Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). It has been suggested that they can lead to a persistent and repeated overload on the masticatory system. This overload could release inflammatory substances by injured tissues, that could lead a peripheral sensitization. The increase and persistence of peripheral nociceptive activity with other factors may result in the development and perpetuation of central sensitization (CS). CS is frequently present in patients with painful TMD, and it could difficult the diagnosis, worse the prognosis and reduce the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches used to treat painful TMD. Therefore, the knowledge of contributing factors for CS is extremely important for better management of painful TMD.Aim: to investigate the correlation between the frequency of oral behaviors and symptoms of CS severity among individuals with chronic painful TMD. Material and Methods: this is a cross-sectional study that will be composed by 40 individuals with chronic painful TMD associated or not with other diagnosis of non-painful TMD. The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders will be used to classify the painful TMD. Moreover, the frequency of oral behaviors will be assessment by the Oral Behavior Checklist, and the severity of CS symptoms by the Central Sensitization Inventory. Descriptive analyzes of all data will be performed. A test of normality for CS data will be performed. According to the distribution of the data, a correlation test will be performed. The analysis will be performed using SPSS 16.0 for Windows with a significance level of 5%.