Evaluation of the Effect of Mask Use on Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of mask use on temporomandibular joint dysfunction during the Covid-19 pandemic.Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 500 adult patients who applied to the radiology and orthodontics clinic between 2020-2022 and had panoramic films taken for their other treatments.The type of mask used by the patients and the duration of use, as well as the presence of conditions such as difficulty breathing while using the mask, keeping the mouth open without realizing it, clenching the teeth, bringing the lower jaw forward, joint pain and earache, were questioned with the help of prepared questionnaires. Clinical and radiographic temporomandibular joint examination was performed.Results: Among the participants who wore N95 and similar masks, the rates of those who clenched their teeth while wearing the mask and felt pain in the jaw joint and ears were significantly higher than those who did not wear this mask (p<0.05). The rate of those who had difficulty breathing while wearing a mask was significantly higher in participants whose average daily mask use time was 5-8 hours compared to others (p<0.05). Conclusion: Participants who clenched their teeth while wearing a mask, unconsciously brought their lower jaw forward, felt pain in the jaw joint, and those who wore masks for a long time were more likely to have a pathological finding in joint examination or radiographic examination. Further studies are needed in this regard.