ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
View the CAT printer-friendly / share this CAT
spacer
Title Smoking Tobacco Does Not Increase Incidence or Severity of TMJ Pain
Clinical Question In adult patients, do tobacco smokers experience greater TMJ pain than nonsmokers?
Clinical Bottom Line If a smoking patient reports with TMD, having them discontinue their smoking habit should not be the only treatment given to them. Smoking alone can’t be considered the only factor that causes TMD patients to experience more pain when compared to nonsmokers. (See Comments on the CAT below)
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 16106714Wanman/2005Tobacco smokers and nonsmokers with TMJ painCohort Study
Key resultsIn this study 244 smokers were matched with nonsmokers based on age, gender, number of teeth, educational level, and area of residence. At the beginning and end of the study 30% of the subjects reported mild TMD symptoms. Pain in the jaws and more intense TMD pain was reported by 15% of the subjects. Finally, there were no noteworthy differences found between smokers and nonsmokers concerning the course of the symptoms or signs of the TMD seen during the 6 year study.
Evidence Search ("Smoking"[Mesh]) AND "Temporomandibular Joint Disorders"[Mesh]
Comments on
The Evidence
The subjects that were paired together in this study were clearly defined from the beginning and matched well together. The 6 year follow-up period was long enough to get acceptable results for the evaluation of pain differences. Having the patients that reported as smokers stop smoking and then reexamining them would make this study even better.
Applicability In smoking patients that report with pain in their TMJ, advising them to stop smoking probably would not be the best option to reduce their TMJ pain. There are better treatment options available to TMD patients, and quitting their tobacco smoking habit wouldn’t remove the discomfort felt in their TMJ.
Specialty/Discipline (General Dentistry) (Behavioral Science)
Keywords TMD, tobacco, smoking
ID# 2176
Date of submission: 03/26/2012spacer
E-mail pattersonta@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Trey Patterson
Co-author(s) Donald Nguyen
Co-author(s) e-mail NguyenD13@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Faculty mentor/Co-author Edward F. Wright, DDS, MS
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail wrightE2@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
post a rationale
None available
spacer
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
post a comment
by J.C. Reagan (San Antonio, TX) on 04/24/2012
A PubMed search was performed in April 2012. The CAT contains the most recent and best evidence pertaining to the clinical question asked.
spacer

Return to Found CATs list