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Study Protocol

Correlation between mental well-being and severity of class II temporomandibular joint disorders, compared to non-temporomandibular joint disorders

[version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]
PUBLISHED 09 Oct 2023
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This article is included in the Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research collection.

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are one of the most common ailments encountered in the craniofacial region, with various clinical, radiological and psychological manifestations but often go undiagnosed due to lack of a diagnostic protocol to assess and correlate all these factors in order to create an effective management plan based on early diagnosis. The objectives of this research are to assess, compare and co-relate the severity of clinical and radiological findings with mental well-being in class II (vertical growth pattern) TMD cases as compared to class I non-TMD cases. Grading of skeletal class II cases on the severity of TMD will be done using Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs (DC/TMD). Bilateral sagittal as well as coronal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images will be obtained. Evaluation and grading of mental well-being and anxiety will be done using the Warwick-Edinburgh and Hamilton scales, respectively. The expected results are a probable positive correlation between the severity of clinical and radiological symptoms of TMDs and deteriorating mental well-being in the form of stress, anxiety and depression. A cause-effect relationship may be evaluated with the aim of early diagnosis and management of TMDs as improving the quality of life of these cases. This study will aid in identifying the clinical symptoms and articular disc position on MRI as they correlate with the mental well-being status and anxiety levels in TMD cases. Further management and early intervention can be undertaken in such cases to prevent or stall the progression of TMD into severe forms while improving the quality of life (QoL) in such cases.

Keywords

Temporomandibular joint disorders, Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Mental well-being, Magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are a group of conditions that affect the jaw and the muscles that control its movement.1 These disorders can cause pain, discomfort, and limited jaw movement and can impact a person’s mental well-being.2

Evidence suggests that TMJ disorders can cause or contribute to altered mental well-being.3 TMJ disorders can greatly affect an individual’s quality of life, causing chronic pain and discomfort. This often leads to anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality, worsening the disorder’s symptoms.4 Furthermore, the limitations of TMJ disorders can cause social isolation, reduced self-esteem, and decreased functional abilities.5 The general population is affected by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) at varying rates, according to epidemiological studies ranging from 45% to 75% incidence.6 Given the high incidence, it is likely that a sizable fraction of the population is affected with TMD.

According to Ruf and Pancherz’s 1999 paper, those with Class II malocclusion and a vertical growth pattern are more likely to have temporomandibular joint disease (TMD).7

The gold standard and most accurate diagnostic tool for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) abnormalities is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The TMJ and its encircling components, including the articular disc, muscles, and ligaments, can be seen on an MRI scan. With the help of this imaging method, the joint space, disc location, and bone morphology may all be assessed non-invasively.8 Moreover, MRI can detect additional problems like tumours, infections, and fractures that may resemble TMJ disorders. MRI offers higher soft tissue contrast than other imaging methods like computed tomography (CT) and plain radiography and does not subject the patient to ionising radiation. It has been demonstrated that using MRI for TMJ evaluation improves patient outcomes, treatment planning, and diagnosis accuracy.9

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is an essential tool for determining mental well-being.10 It is a validated questionnaire that assesses positive facets of mental health, such as joy, self-esteem, and good interpersonal interactions. Higher scores indicate more well-being on the scale, which consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The WEMWBS has been used in research and clinical settings. It has produced useful data on mental well-being and its relationships to different health outcomes, which can be used to assess it in TMD situations.7 A popular measure for measuring anxiety in people is the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A).11 The HAM-application A’ s in TMD studies has highlighted the connection between anxiety and TMD. According to one study, those with TMD had considerably higher HAM-A scores than healthy controls, which may indicate that these people had higher anxiety levels.12

Hence this study is planned to assess the correlation of these clinical radiologic and psychological parameters to further aid in the effective and timely management of TMDs.

Objectives

  • 1. To evaluate TMD’s clinical and radiological (MRI-based) symptoms in Class II (Vertical) Temporomandibular joint disorder cases and Class I Non-TMD cases.

  • 2. To evaluate the mental well-being of these cases using curated scales and questionnaires.

  • 3. Compare these symptoms and mental well-being status in Class II (Vertical) cases with those without Temporomandibular joint disorder.

Protocol

Study design and setting

An observational and analytical study will be conducted at Sharad Pawar Dental College, Sawangi, in collaboration with the Department of Radiology, Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH). See Extended data23 for the STROBE (Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology) checklist items relevant to this protocol.

A total of 30 adult cases Class II (vertical growth pattern) will be chosen from the Sharad Pawar Dental College’s outpatient department (OPD) of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics in Sawangi, Wardha. The number of samples was selected based on the prevalence of TMD in Class II (Vertical) cases, using the formula n = N*X/ (X + N – 1), where, X = Zα/22 p(1-p) /MOE2, and Zα/2 is the critical value of the normal distribution at α/2 (e.g., for a confidence level of 95%, α is 0.05 and the critical value is 1.96).

Ethics statement

Ethical approval has been granted on 31/03/2023 by Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha, with reference number DMIHER (DU)/2023/18. Informed and written consent will be obtained from all the cases included in the study for their participation. A separate consent form will be issued to obtain participant consent for publication of the research results and data.

Inclusion criteria

Adults more than 18 years of age with Class I (normal skeletal growth pattern of the maxillo-mandibular complex) or Class II (vertical) malocclusion with permanent dentition would be included in this study. Class I or Class II (vertical) malocclusion would be decided based on the cephalometric criteria listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Cephalometric criteria.

Class IClass II (vertical)
ANB-2°ANB-<4°
Wit’s Appraisal-0-1 mmWit’s Appraisal-<2 mm
FMA-22-28°FMA-<20°
Beta angle-27-33°Beta angle-<25°
MP-32-36°MP<31°
Overjet-2-4 mmOverjet-0-2 mm
Overbite-2-4 mmOverbite>4 mm

Exclusion criteria

Cases with Class III malocclusion, Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, or those with a history of temporomandibular joint surgery and skeletal dysplasia would be excluded from this study.

Methods

The methodology of this study involves several steps. Firstly, patients will be diagnosed according to the DC/TMD criteria for clinical signs and symptoms. Secondly, grading of skeletal Class II (vertical growth pattern) cases based on the severity of TMD will be done using the Helkimo index. Bilateral sagittal, as well as coronal MRI images, will then be obtained.

In addition to the above, all cases will be evaluated for mental well-being and anxiety levels using the Warwick-Edinburgh and Hamilton scales, respectively. The evaluation of Articular Disc morphology in the sagittal and coronal plane using MRI will also be conducted.

Furthermore, the study will focus on the correlation of articular disc morphology with clinical symptoms, anxiety, and mental well-being in both groups. Finally, a comparison of articular disc morphology, clinical symptoms, anxiety, and mental well-being will be made among both groups. By following this methodology, the study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between articular disc morphology and various clinical symptoms in patients with TMD.

Bias

Bias will be minimised by random selection of patients based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Study sample

The calculation of sample size was done as follows:

n=N∗X/X+N−1,

Each group would consist of 15 individuals, with the frequency of severe cases being 0.95 per cent. There will be 15 patients in 2 groups, hence, the total sample size will be 30. The sample will be divided into three groups based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria: Group A will be a control group, with 15 Class I (Non-TMD) cases. Group B will comprise 15 skeletal Class II (vertical growth pattern) cases with TMD.

Statistical analysis

All the demographic outcome data will be presented using descriptive statistics for categorical variables in terms of frequency & percentage for continuous variables in terms of mean, standard deviation and median.

Results will be analysed on SPSS version 27 for statistical analysis. The outcome variable will be tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for continuous data.

Articular disc variations are categorised according to the range that will be distributed for analysing the data into the normal range and not in the normal range. The chi-square test will be used to find the result of an association of clinical, radiological and psychological symptoms in Class I (Non-TMD cases) and skeletal Class II (Vertical growth pattern) TMD cases.

An Independent t-test will be used to find the result on three groups for the outcome variable if data comes under the normal distribution. A non-parametric test will find a significant difference if data does not fit the normal distribution.

Dissemination

This study will assist in identifying and promptly diagnosing TMD based on clinical symptoms, changes in articular disc position and psychological status. It will aid in the formulation of an effective management protocol.

Study status

The study has yet to start.

Discussion

Stress and anxiety are prevalent in today’s population due to various factors, including work-related stress, financial stress, social media and technology, family and relationship issues, health concerns, political and social unrest, and trauma and past experiences.1 It is important to seek help if these feelings overwhelm or interfere with daily life.

Several studies13–15 have found a correlation between mental well-being and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Individuals with TMD are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues than those without TMD.16 Additionally, stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health-related symptoms may deteriorate the existing morbidity due to TMD.17 Similarly, management of TMD has been shown to reduce the mental health-related symptoms and improve mental well-being.18 Thus, healthcare professionals must focus on improving psychological status while diagnosing and treating TMD patients, for a better outcome. When Simoen L et al. (2020) examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety in TMD patients, they found that these individuals had much higher anxiety levels than controls of anxiety than controls did.19 Chisnoiu et al. (2015) carried out a systematic review to investigate the association between psychological factors and TMD in a related study. 24 publications, according to the authors, met the requirements for inclusion. The review shows, there is a direct link between TMD and such psychological characteristics as anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization. The authors came to the conclusion that psychological evaluation and intervention should be a part of patient management in order to enhance treatment outcomes for TMD patients.20

A randomised controlled experiment was undertaken by Manfredini et al. (2014) to assess the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and occlusal splint therapy in reducing pain and enhancing function in TMD patients. The authors randomly assigned 90 patients with TMD to three groups: CBT, occlusal splint therapy, or a combination of CBT and occlusal splint therapy. According to the study’s findings, all three treatment groups’ pain and function levels significantly improved compared to baseline. In contrast to the other two groups, the combination group (CBT plus occlusal splint therapy) saw the largest pain intensity reduction and the best improvement in function. The authors concluded that the combination of CBT and occlusal splint therapy is an effective treatment approach for TMD.21

Though isolated, few studies are reported in the literature similar to this study. Moreover, Sanchla et al.22 described that Class II (vertical) cases are more prone to TMD’s. Hence, this study would be clinically significant as correlating the skeletal features, radiologic soft tissue findings, and psychologic status would give a comprehensive picture of the TMD status and aetiology. Further, it will help in laying down a problem-oriented treatment protocol. The expected outcome of this study is to establish a positive correlation between the severity of clinical and radiological symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) and deteriorating mental well-being in the form of stress, anxiety, and depression. The study aims to identify potential predictors of TMDs, particularly psychological factors, to aid in the early diagnosis and management of TMDs, which may ultimately lead to an improved quality of life for individuals with TMDs.

Through a multidisciplinary approach that considers physical and psychological factors, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between TMDs and mental health. By establishing a cause-effect relationship between TMDs and mental health, this study may contribute to developing targeted treatment approaches to improve the quality of life of individuals with TMDs.

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Shrivastav S and Sanchla A. Correlation between mental well-being and severity of class II temporomandibular joint disorders, compared to non-temporomandibular joint disorders [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2023, 12:1293 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.134158.1)
NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
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Open Peer Review

Current Reviewer Status: ?
Key to Reviewer Statuses VIEW
ApprovedThe paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
Version 1
VERSION 1
PUBLISHED 09 Oct 2023
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Reviewer Report 03 Sep 2024
Deepa Jatti Patil, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Gujarat, India 
Approved
VIEWS 1
.The authors plan to correlate the mental well-being of TMD patients with skeletal Class II disorders. The study design is appropriate .But the sample size is small and needs to increased to validate the study and improve the generalisability of ... Continue reading
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HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Patil DJ. Reviewer Report For: Correlation between mental well-being and severity of class II temporomandibular joint disorders, compared to non-temporomandibular joint disorders [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2023, 12:1293 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.147188.r265368)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
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Reviewer Report 15 Feb 2024
Mohamed Jaber, Ajman University, Ajman, Ajman, United Arab Emirates 
Not Approved
VIEWS 10
1. Abstract
   - The abstract outlines a systematic approach to assessing and correlating clinical, radiological, and psychological aspects of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). The use of established diagnostic criteria and scales (DC/TMD, Warwick-Edinburgh, Hamilton) indicates a rigorous ... Continue reading
CITE
CITE
HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Jaber M. Reviewer Report For: Correlation between mental well-being and severity of class II temporomandibular joint disorders, compared to non-temporomandibular joint disorders [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2023, 12:1293 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.147188.r237111)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.

Comments on this article Comments (0)

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VERSION 1 PUBLISHED 09 Oct 2023
Comment
Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article:
Approved - the paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations - A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approved - fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
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