Temporomandibular disorders as a possible factor of orofacial pain worsening during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Aim: In late December 2019, a new pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection began to spread around the world. The new situation gave rise to severe health threats, economic uncertainty, and social isolation, causing potential deleterious effects on people's physical and mental health. These effects can influence oral and maxillofacial conditions, such as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and bruxism, which could further aggravate the orofacial pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the current pandemic on the possible prevalence and worsening of TMD and bruxism symptoms, in italian patients. Materials and method: Studies were conducted as cross-sectional online surveys using similar anonymous questionnaires during the lockdown. The authors obtained 800 complete responses. In the first step, data concerning TMDs, and bruxism were compared. In the second step, univariate analyses (Chi2) were performed to investigate the effects of anxiety, depression, and personal concerns of the Coronavirus pandemic, on the symptoms of TMD, and bruxism symptoms and their possible aggravation. Finally, multivariate analyses were carried out to identify the study variables that had a predictive value on TMD, bruxism, and symptom aggravation. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that the Coronavirus pandemic has caused significant adverse effects on the psychoemotional status. resulting in the intensification of their bruxism and TMD symptoms. The aggravation of the psychoemotional status caused by the Coronavirus pandemic can result in bruxism and TMD symptoms intensification and thus lead to increased orofacial pain.