Carlos Araya V.; Patricio Oliva B.; Natalia Ananías; Pamela De los Santos & María Eugenia Mendoza

Summary

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) involve the muscles of mastication, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and other structures associated with the oral cavity and represent a multifactorial nature of disorders associated to this joint, condition that is in the range of 50 to 93% of prevalence in the population and whose etiology is associated with stress and / or altered psychological states. The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional observational in order to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders and TMD in workers of the Tucapel Family Health Center (CESFAM), Barrio Norte, in Concepción’s commune. Of the 97 staff, 79 agreed to take part voluntarily of the study, all of these people also work directly with patients at a sector with numerous socioeconomic and employment problems. A survey aimed toward the inquiry of psychological, TMD (signs and symptoms) and extra-intra oral complementary examination, was conducted. Anxiety disorders and burnout associated conditions were found (81 and 27.8% respectively), multifactorial TMD was also reported (98.7%) but present in all individuals with anxiety disorders and conditions associated to burnout.

KEY WORDS: temporomandibular joint, temporomandibular disordes, stress, burnout.

How to cite this article

ARAYA, V. C.; OLIVA, B. P.; ANANÍAS, N.; DE LOS SANTOS, P. & MENDOZA, M. E. Temporomandibular and anxiety disorders in workers of a family health center in the area of Concepción, Chile. Int. J. Odontostomat., 5(3):235-239, 2011.