Clinical Associations of Temporomandibular Disorder and Bruxism related Symptoms with Periodontal Disease Progression

Nils Werner^1*Katrin Heck¹Christina Ern¹Richard Heym¹Vinzenz Le²Oliver Schubert²Charlotte Wetzel¹Vinay Pitchika¹Falk Schwendicke¹Matthias Folwaczny¹Caspar Victor Bumm¹

• ¹Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
• ²Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany, Munich, Germany

Introduction The aim of this study was to analyse whether symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) or bruxism were associated with the progression of periodontitis. A potential association could be explained by a decreased level of oral hygiene in patients presenting with orofacial pain. Materials and Methods 148 patients diagnosed with periodontitis received individual department specific screening for symptoms of TMD or bruxism prior to initial treatment and were stratified into patients with symptoms related to TMD or bruxism (STMDoB=30) and without symptoms (NO_STMDoB=118). Progression of periodontitis was determined by tooth loss (TL) as well as radiographic bone loss (RBL), using longitudinal radiographic data with a follow-up of at least 5 years. Results Patients presented with a median of 60 [52;68] years, 25 [21;27] teeth and a mean RBL of 50.5±16.4 % not showing difference among both study groups. Neither RBL (1.2 [0.0;6.0] % STMDoB vs. 2.9 [0.0;9.1] % NO_STMDoB, p=0.165) nor TL (1 [0;3] STMDoB vs. 1 [0;3] NO_STMDoB; p=0.195) differed significantly between both study groups, with equally low periodontal progression in both groups. Regression models revealed no association of any reported symptom of TMD or bruxism with periodontal progression (β: 9.07; CI: -4.09;22.23; p = 0.446 for RBL and rate ratio: 1.09; CI: 0.80;1.47; p = 0.587 for TL). Conclusions The present data showed no association of STMDoB with periodontal disease progression on the patient level.