Sleep Disorders in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in an Adult Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey in Southern Brazil.

Objective: To verify the prevalence of sleep disorders in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) subjects in a Brazilian population-based, cross-sectional survey (N = 1,643).

Methods: Patients were assessed with the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) Axes I and II and the Sleep Assessment Questionnaire. Student t test and Pearson chi-square test were used for continuous and categorical data analyses, respectively.

Results: TMD subjects had significantly worse sleep disorders than controls (Graded Chronic Pain Severity categories I through IV vs 0, respectively) in RDC/TMD Axis II variables. Sleep disorders were also worse in the Axis I TMD groups (myofascial pain and arthralgia/osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis), with the exception of disc displacements.

Conclusions: TMD subjects had worse sleep disorders, mainly in Axis I TMD groups, with higher pain/disability levels.