The Predictors of Pain in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review

AZEVEDO, Ludmila Menezes Alves de *

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

CUNHA, Taísi Antunes da

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

BARROS, Bruna Massaroto

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

MARTINS, Rita de Cassia das Neves

Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

SILVA, Juliana Leite da

Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

GOMES, Cid Andre Fidelis de Paula

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

POLITTI, Fabiano

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

BIASOTTO-GONZALEZ, Daniela Aparecida

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, Zip code:01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) constitutes a set of joint and muscle conditions of the craniomandibular-cervical region that can trigger signs and symptoms, such as pain in the region of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), headache, pain in the muscles of mastication, otalgia, facial pain, functional limitation, neck pain, fatigue, limited mouth opening, pain when chewing, ringing in the ears, jaw pain.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic literature review investigating the more frequent predictors of pain in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Study Design: Observational cohort studies that evaluated predictors of pain in patients with TMD were reviewed. Searches were conducted in the Medline, EMBASE, BVS, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature) and the Cochrane Collaboration’s Center Register of Controlled Clinical Trials (CENTRAL) databases.

Results: The search strategy led to the retrieval of 714 studies, 78 articles of which were submitted to analysis and 18 were eligible for review. The selected studies were separated by predictors of pain in TMD: sleep (n = 2), parafunction (n = 2), psychosocial factors (n = 10), genetic factors (n = 3), myofascial pain (n = 2), occlusion (n = 1). Two articles were included in the review of two predictors.

Conclusion: The predictors most associated with TMD are psychosocial factors, parafunction, sleep, genetic factors, occlusion and myofascial pain.

Implications for Practice: Knowledge regarding predictors of pain in patients with TMD can assist in the diagnosis and treatment using the biopsychosocial model and, consequently, diminish the chronicity of this condition.

Keywords: Temporomandibular joint disorders, risk factors, predictors for pain, orofacial pain, biopsychosocial model


How to Cite

de, AZEVEDO, Ludmila Menezes Alves, CUNHA, Taísi Antunes da, BARROS, Bruna Massaroto, MARTINS, Rita de Cassia das Neves, SILVA, Juliana Leite da, GOMES, Cid Andre Fidelis de Paula, POLITTI, Fabiano, and BIASOTTO-GONZALEZ, Daniela Aparecida. 2025. “The Predictors of Pain in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research 37 (3):332-55. https://doi.org/10.9734/jammr/2025/v37i35769.

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