Investigation and analysis of symptoms and risk factors of temporomandibular disorders among military medical cadets

ZHAO Xin; JING Bingshuai; LI Rong; LIANG Shan; ZHAO Na; LI Yunpeng; GUO Li

doi:10.13276/j.issn.2097-1656.2025.10.004

Abstract：Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of temporomandibular disorders(TMD)symptoms among military medical cadets and provide evidence for military health management and daily prevention.Methods An online questionnaire was designed based on the Chinese version of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders self-assessment tool.It included the TMD Symptom Questionnaire,Graded Chronic Pain Scale,Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale,and the Oral Behaviors Checklist(21 items).Valid questionnaires were collected from 249 cadets at a military medical academy.Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0,employing Chi-square tests,t-tests,Mann-Whitney U tests,and binary logistic regression analysis.Results The prevalence of TMD symptoms among cadets was 41.37％.Joint clicking(32.53％,higher in females than in males,P=0.015)and orofacial pain(19.68％,higher in senior cadets than in junior cadets,P=0.017)were the most common symptoms of TMD.Univariate analysis revealed that female gender,12 abnormal oral behaviors,and anxiety were closely associated with TMD symptoms(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis revealed that"tooth contact outside of eating"(P=0.003,OR=3.282,95％CI:1.490-7.229)and"jaw thrusting/protruding to one side or holding in that position"(P=0.003,OR=3.355,95％CI:1.530-7.359)were independent risk factors for developing TMD symptoms.Conclusion TMD symptoms are highly prevalent among military cadets.Anxiety and specific abnormal oral behaviors are significant risk factors.Implementing graded prevention strategies-such as optimizing training postures,utilizing occlusal splints,and enhancing psychological counseling-can improve temporomandibular joint health in this population.