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Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders and their correlation with gender, anxiety, and depression in dental students − A cross-sectional study

Context: The role of anxiety and depression in causing temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) has been well established in the past; however, there are no studies on dental students that evaluate both the TMD and psychological factors. Aim: To determine the prevalence of TMD among dental students and its correlation with gender, anxiety, and depression. Materials and Methods: The study included 384 dental students (both undergraduates and postgraduates). The prevalence and severity of TMD were assessed with an anamnestic questionnaire. The severity of anxiety and depression was evaluated by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale after eliciting a detailed case history to include/exclude the participants. Statistical tests, including Shapiro-Wilk's, Chi-square, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, were done to check the normality distribution, association, and correlation, respectively. Results: The results revealed that 52.9% of the students had some degree of TMD. There was no statistically significant difference in the TMD severity between different gender (P = 0.373). About 51% of the students had anxiety, and 24% had depression. There was a statistically significantly high level of anxiety in females than in males (P = 0.046); however, not for depression (P = 0.312). There was a significant positive correlation between TMD severity and anxiety (P < 0.001) but not depression (P = 0.10). Conclusions: A high TMD prevalence was observed in dental students. There was a significant positive correlation between TMD severity with anxiety but not gender and depression. Psychological counseling and appropriate management are the need of the hour to prevent further complications.