Chronic temporomandibular disorder pain impact on work activities

Purpose: Evaluate if TMD chronic pain had been associated to work absenteeism. Methods: A study using secondary data obtained from a randomized clinical trial of patients seeking for TMD treatment at a tertiary center. Worker patients with TMD according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) were selected. Mean degree of chronic pain severity was compared with number of days of work absenteeism. Results: Of 106 selected patients, majority reported high levels of pain intensity and low disability. However, the greater pain severity degree, the greater the number of days of sick leave reported (p<0,001). There was also a positive correlation between work absenteeism, disability and daily activities impairment. Conclusion: TMD chronic pain has been associated to work absenteeism, and patients with severe degree of chronic pain reported more days of sick leave.