Presence of Parafunctional Habits in Temporomandibular Articulation Disorders in University Students

Objective: To identify the presence of parafunctional oral habits and to evaluate its association with signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in university students. Methods/Statistical Analysis: A non-experimental design with a transversal descriptive cut was assumed. The sample was non-probabilistic at convenience: 168 students of the Physiotherapy Program. Students who will use the orthodontic devices were excluded. The instruments used were the self-report questionnaire for Parafunctional Oral Habits, the Mobility Tests and the Krogh-Paulsen Test. The data were analyzed statistically, by means of the χ ^ 2 and Fisher Exacta Tests. Findings: In relation to Parafunctional Habits, 69% share large fruits with their mouths; 40% had temporomandibular joint disorder. The application of the Krogh Paulse Test found an association between pain areas and Parafunctional Habits (p < 0.05). Using a multivariate analysis, the results showed that chewing gum has a significant relationship with the pain that originates when speaking (p = 0.025), yawning (p = 0.011) and biting (p = 0.01). The introduction of hard objects to the mouth is significantly related to facial swelling (p = 0.042). Application/Improvements: High presence of Parafunctional Oral Habits was observed, such as splitting large fruits with the mouth, introducing hard objects to the mouth and chewing gum, which were the most significantly associated with TMJ disorder in university students who did not present orthodontic device.