d'Apuzzo F, Rotolo RP, Nucci L, Simeon V, Minervini G, Grassia V. Protective masks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Any relationship with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain?
J Oral Rehabil 2023. [PMID:
37073896 DOI:
10.1111/joor.13470]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Wearing protective face masks has been one of the indispensable measures to prevent droplets and aerosol particles transmission during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
OBJECTIVES
This observational cross-sectional survey investigated the different types and modalities of protective mask wearing and the possible association with referred signs of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain by respondents.
METHODS
An online-questionnaire was developed, calibrated and administered anonymously to subjects with an age of ≥ 18 years. It consisted of different sections: demographics, type and wearing modalities of the protective masks, pain in the preauricular area, noise at the temporomandibular joints and headache. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software STATA v16.
RESULTS
The questionnaire received 665 replies mainly from participants aged 18-30 years (315 males, 350 females). The healthcare professionals were 37% of participants, 21.2% of them were dentists. The Filtering Facepiece 2 or 3 (FFP2/FFP3) mask was used by 334 subjects (50.3%), and 578 (87%) wore the mask with two elastics behind the ears. Pain while wearing the mask was referred by 400 participants, and 36.8% of them referred pain with a consecutive use of more than 4 hours (p = 0.042). 92.2% of participants did not report any TMJ noise. Headache associated with the FFP2/FFP3 was referred by 57.7% of subjects (p = 0.033).
CONCLUSION
This survey highlighted the increased referred the presence of discomfort in the preauricular area and headache possibly associated with a prolonged use of protective face masks for more than 4 hours during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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