This study investigates the effect of systemic status, according to American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA), and COVID-19 on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) scale, shown to be valid for assessing TMJ disorders. The study included 76 patients who presented to our clinic with TMJ. Participants were divided into two groups: those with COVID-19 (CV-19, study group) and those without (non-CV-19, control group). These two groups were both further divided into subgroups according to ASA 1 and ASA 2 classification. Power analyses were performed using G*Power software to determine the required number of patients. Groups were compared using the Symptom Questionnaire, a demographics survey, the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), and the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20) of the DC/TMD. The statistical software program version 1.6.23 was used for statistical analysis. Although joint complaints were more common in ASA 2 patients with CV-19, the groups were not significantly different. The CV-19 ASA 2 group had the highest JFLS-20 score (mean: 1.3±1.5) and the non-CV-19 ASA 1 group had the lowest JFLS-20 score (mean: 0.7±0.8), but the differences were again not significant. Joint complaints were more common and more severe in ASA 2 patients with CV-19, albeit not with statistical significance. More studies are needed to better understand our results.
There is evidence that CV-19 is associated with joint symptoms, but there are no specific data on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It is also known that the systemic health status can impact the immune system. Given all this, this study aimed to investigate the effect of CV-19 and systemic health status, as determined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System 12, on TMJ in patients with TMJ complaints using the DC/TMD scale.