Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Temporomandibular Joint Disorders among Dental Students and Practitioners

Objectives: Temporomandibular joint syndrome, also known as temporomandibular disorder (TMD), is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and related structures in the orofacial region. TMJ pain, restriction of mandibular movement, TMJand facial deformities are all common symptoms. An adequate understanding about TMD is essential for early diagnosis, timely intervention and successful outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding temporomandibular joint disorders among the private dental practitioners and dental students in our institution. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the Dental students and Dental practitioners in Chennai. Dental students were undergraduate [UG], postgraduate [PG] and fellowship [FDS] dental students of Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha University, Chennai. Private Dental practitioners participated in the study were general dental practitioners and speciality dental practitioners belonging to the various branches of dentistry. A total of 200 participants were randomly enrolled in the study and completed a questionnaire consisting of 20 close-ended questions including demographic details. The questions in the questionnaire were designed in three sections to assess their basic knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding temporomandibular disorders. Based on the responses from the participants their knowledge levels were classified into good, moderate/fair and poor; and their attitude was evaluated as positive or negative.The collected data was validated, tabulated and analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows, version 23.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and results were obtained. Descriptive analysis was performed and Chi-square test was used to test associations between categorical variables. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Our study consisted of 200 participants with Female participants (63%) predominating male participants (37%). Post graduate students [males and females] were the predominant participants in this study. Among specialized dental practitioners, oral surgeons (23.50%) predominantly participated in the study, followed by prosthodontists and endodontists.Associations between categorical variables gender, educational qualification of the participants, and responses to knowledge, attitude and practices questionnaire were statistically significant [P value < 0.05]. Thus, variations existed in the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding TMD among the participants based on gender and educational qualification.Female participants had good levels of knowledge and positive attitude towards TMD than the male participants. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that dental practitioners have good level of knowledge regarding temporomandibular disorders whereas dental students exhibited moderate levels of knowledge. Specialty dental practitioners had better knowledge than general dental practitioners. Post graduate students had better knowledge than the undergraduate and fellowship dental students. Both dental practitioners and dental students showed positive attitudes towards updating knowledge and management of temporomandibular joint disorders. However, general dental practitioners and dental students lacked confidence and had difficulties in treating the patients with temporomandibular disorders in their practice.Speciality dental practitioners exhibited excellent clinical practices for the TMD patients. Hence, this study emphasizes the need for improved education in the teaching curriculum for dental students regarding temporomandibular disorders