Prevalence Of Temporomandibular Disorders Among Saudi Adolescents In Al-Ahsa

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among adolescents in the Al-Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted among 866 Saudi adolescents (10–19 years). Stratified cluster random sampling was employed to select 12 male and 12 female public schools from four administrative regions. A validated questionnaire incorporating the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC-TMD) was used, followed by a clinical examination after the investigators' calibration. TMD prevalence was 15.2%, with a higher occurrence among females (p ≤ 0.01). Significant associations were found with being the first-born sibling (p ≤ 0.01), unhappy at school (p ≤ 0.001), reporting chaotic family relationships (p ≤ 0.001), and presenting with nervousness or poor general health (p ≤ 0.001). Myalgia was the most common clinical TMD diagnosis, while facial pain was the most frequently reported symptom across all TMD cases (p ≤ 0.01). Oral habits were stated by (67.9%) and trauma to the jaw by (38.8%). Facial pain during jaw function, particularly during jaw opening, was reported in 76.6% of cases, while joint noises were observed in 43.2%. The study's findings highlight the significant health concern posed by TMD, particularly among females and individuals with psychosocial stressors related to school and family. The underreporting of TMD is a pressing issue, underscoring the need to increase awareness and early intervention, especially among at-risk adolescent groups.