Investigation of the relationship between laboratory findings of muscle pain and the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular disorders diagnosed using DC-TMD axis I, with consideration of axis II

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a clinical condition that affects the temporomandibular joint and associated structures, characterized by symptoms such as pain in the masticatory muscles and joint region, limited mouth opening, and joint sounds. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between TMD and factors such as pain, stress level, depression, anxiety, parafunctional habits, and functional limitation—assessed through the Axis II questionnaires of the DC/TMD—as well as laboratory findings, in order to identify and eliminate contributing factors. All participants were female patients diagnosed with muscle pain based on DC/TMD Axis I questionnaires and clinical examination forms. In this context, 100 eligible patients who presented with TMD complaints to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Faculty of Dentistry, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, between January 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024, and were diagnosed with muscle pain according to the DC/TMD, were included in the study. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine whether there were any associations between laboratory findings and Axis II evaluation scores. Significant correlations were found between jaw functional limitation and progesterone and parathyroid hormone levels; between estrogen levels and anxiety; and between vitamin D levels and muscle pain.