Age-Related Prevalence and Severity of Temporomandibular Disorder Among Patients Attending Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery OPD at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Temporomandibular disorders encompass conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its associated muscles, often resulting in pain, restricted mandibular movement, and clicking sounds. Objective To assess the age-specific prevalence and severity of temporomandibular disorders among patients attending the dental and maxillofacial surgery outpatient clinics at a tertiary care hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted over six months, from August 2024 to January 2025, at Liaquat National Hospital's dental and maxillofacial surgery OPD included 200 patients. The data was collected using Fonseca's 10-item questionnaire to evaluate Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunction severity. Results In terms of age distribution, approximately 26.9% of participants were aged 18 to 29 years, 28.4% were aged 30 to 39 years, 34.8% were aged 40 to 49 years, and 9.5% were aged 50 and older. Out of 200 participants, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) were seen in 79%. The majority had mild TMD (39%), followed by moderate TMD (27%) and severe TMD (27%). Across all age groups, mild TMD was the most prevalent condition. Nearly 30% of participants in the following two age groups reported having moderate TMD: 30-39 (29.8%) and 40-49 (30.0%). The frequency of severe TMD was higher in the 40-49 years age group (15.7%), followed by the 30-39 years (12.3%), 18-29 years (11.1%), and 50 years and above (10.5%). Conclusion These age-related findings support the implementation of early diagnostic and preventive measures for younger populations and tailored long-term management strategies for older patients.