Introduction:

The etiology of temporomandibular dysfunction is multifactorial, and causal factors include psychological conditions such as anxiety.

Objective:

Identify the prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction and anxiety as well as their levels among dental students from the Federal University of Campina Grande.

Methods:

An inductive cross-sectional observational study was conducted of a sample of 185 dental students from the Federal University of Campina Grande. Data collection was based on Fonseca's anamnesis index and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and subjected to the chi-square statistical test and Fisher's exact test, with a significance level of 5 %.

Results:

Results show that most of the sample was female (67 %) with a mean age of 21.4 years. On the other hand, 79 % of the students had some degree of dysfunction, which was mild in most (72 %). Anxiety state and anxiety trait were more prevalent on the moderate level with 79 % and 72 % respectively. No significant statistical association was identified in the study sample between the presence and absence of temporomandibular dysfunction and anxiety, be it trait or state, with values of p= 0.484 and p= 0.297 respectively.

Conclusions:

High statistical prevalence was found of temporomandibular dysfunction and anxiety among dental students, hence the importance of a detailed search for those signs and symptoms during clinical examination.

        · resumen en Español | Portugués     · texto en Portugués     · Portugués ( pdf )