Title	TMD Signs and Symptoms Increase in Dental Students After 1 Year of Dental School, Especially in Women
Clinical Question	Are TMD symptoms related to stress increased in 2nd year dental students compared to entering dental students?
Clinical Bottom Line	At the end of the study the 1-year incidence of muscle signs and symptoms increased significantly for both sexes of dental students, and the increase was even more significant for women; however, whether or not stress contributed to this increase was not clearly demonstrated.
Best Evidence
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type (level of evidence) 18446553 Marklund/2008 308 dental students 1 year cohort study Key results The incidence of myofascial pain was assessed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). 308 dental students were surveyed before beginning dental school and again upon entering their 2nd year. The prevalence of muscular signs and symptoms increased in both sexes of dental students, but when a sub-analysis was done, breaking down the data between men and women, there was a significant increase seen in women. For instance, 76% of the original 30% of the total population who experienced incidence of muscle signs and symptoms were women. Similar findings with large gaps between the sexes were seen throughout the study.
Evidence Search	TMD pain dental students
Comments on The Evidence	Validity: The paper demonstrates a marked increase in incidence of myofascial pain using a well-known measure of TMD signs and symptoms, the RGC/TMD, in the dental students throughout the 1st year of dental school.
Applicability	This study suggests that dental students are vulnerable to developing TMD. This study could be used by faculty to justify discussing with incoming dental students ways to prevent developing TMD symptoms. Discussion of TMD self-management strategies should be employed among other topics dealing with the TMJ.
Specialty	(General Dentistry) (Oral Surgery) (Orthodontics)
Keywords	bruxism; dental students; myofascial pain; stress; temporomandibular joint; temporomandibular disorder
ID#	2822
Date of submission	04/13/2015
E-mail	wills@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author	Clayton Wills
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor	Edward F. Wright, DDS, MS
Faculty mentor 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?) None available
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT (FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) None available