Oral health in patients with temporomandibular disorders and dental anxiety

Objectives:, Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) instruments contain more information than represented in their summary scores. Item information provides useful insight in patient-relevant oral health problems. Our study aim was to compare the perceived impact from temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and from dental anxiety using item profiles of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Methods:, We measured OHRQoL with the German version of the 14-item OHIP in 416 TMD patients, 173 dental anxiety patients and 2026 general population subjects. OHIP's item information was presented as graphical display of all 14 item prevalences. Results:, Dental anxiety patients demonstrated significantly the highest OHIP mean scores (anxiety patients: 22, TMD patients: 14, general population: 4). Item prevalence was 6 - 61% in dental anxiety patients and 3 - 40% in TMD patients. The item prevalence of both patient groups was very similar for functional and pain-related OHRQoL aspects. In the dimensions psychological discomfort and psychological disability items were more prevalent in dental anxiety than in TMD patients. Conclusion:, Two conditions with known extensive psychosocial burden, TMD and dental anxiety, not only have a different overall perceived impact described by the OHRQoL instrument's summary score, they also presented a differential impact in important components of OHRQoL.