RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess and compare oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in women with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk displacement without reduction, before disk repositioning and anchoring surgery, in short-term follow-up, in different age groups, and with use of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). STUDY DESIGN: Fifty women ages between 17 and 60 years were divided into 4 age groups: 17-27, 28-38, 39-49, and 50-60 years. All the patients were asked to answer the OHIP-14 form before surgery and during their short-term follow-up. Seven domains of OHRQOL were rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Domains' scores and total OHIP-14 were compared between times by using Student's t test in the whole sample and in the 4 age groups. RESULTS: Both the whole sample and the age groups (17-27, 28-38, 39-49 years) showed a statistically significant decrease in all scores (P < .01). The age group 50-60 years showed a decrease in scores significant only in functional limitation (Pâ¯=â¯.05) CONCLUSIONS: TMJ disk anterior displacement had a negative impact on women's OHRQOL because of physical pain, physical disability, and psychological discomfort. TMJ disk repositioning and anchoring surgery improved overall OHRQOL in patients between 17 and 49 years of age; however, in patients between 50 and 60 years of age, there was improvement only in physical pain.