Age‐related differences in diagnostic categories, psychological states and oral health–related quality of life of adult temporomandibular disorder patients

Abstract Objectives The peak prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may occur in middle age. This study determined the proportion of matured adults seeking TMD treatment and compared their diagnostic, psychological and oral health–related quality‐of‐life (OHRQoL) profiles to younger patients. Methods Adult subjects were recruited from a tertiary TMD centre and assigned to three age groups, namely 18‐44 years (young adults [YA]), 45‐64 (middle‐aged adults [MA]) and ≥65 (old adults [OA]). TMD diagnoses were established with the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs and categorised as pain‐related (PT), intra‐articular (IT) and combined (CT) TMDs. Psychological states and OHRQoL were assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale‐21 (DASS‐21) and Oral Health Impact Profile‐TMDs (OHIP‐TMDs). Demographic, DASS‐21, and OHIP‐TMDs data were analysed using chi‐square test, one‐way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation ( P < .05). Results Middle‐aged (19.7%; 136/692) and old (4.0%; 28/692) adults comprised about a quarter of the TMD patients. Although gender distribution was comparable, significant differences in TMD categories were observed ( P < .001). Pain‐related TMDs were more prevalent in the MA/OA groups while intra‐articular TMDs were more frequent in the YA group. No significant difference in DASS‐21 and total OHIP scores was noted among three groups. However, the MA and OA groups had significantly lower OHRQoL in the physical pain domain. Correlations between DASS‐21 and OHIP‐TMDs scores varied with age and ranged from r s = 0.47‐0.92. Conclusions Matured patients constituted a quarter of TMD cohort and presented higher frequencies of painful TMDs. They have similar psychological profiles to younger patients but experienced lower OHRQoL in physical pain domain.