Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital Analyzes Domestic Temporomandibular Joint Patients... "Young Women Should Pay Attention to Jaw Health"

27% of TMJ Patients in Their 20s, 17% in Teens
Women Are 1.44 Times More Than Men

A woman is receiving acupuncture treatment on her temporomandibular joint.
[Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been found that younger individuals report more cases of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which are the only joints in the face and play an important role when chewing food. By gender, female patients were 1.4 times more numerous than male patients.

The research team led by Korean Medicine Doctor Jeong Seong-yeop at Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute announced on the 28th that they analyzed treatment patterns and status of domestic TMJ patients based on data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) from 2010 to 2018.

The team set the study subjects as patients who were diagnosed with TMJ disorders and used medical services at least once per year over nine years, based on the HIRA-NPS (National Patient Sample) data. The target patients numbered 109,969, diagnosed with TMJ disorder (diagnosis code K076) and sprain and strain of the jaw (diagnosis code S034).

Analysis of demographic characteristics showed that the largest number of TMJ patients in Korea were in their 20s. The combined proportion of patients in their teens and 20s was close to half. As of 2018, those in their 20s (3,720 patients) accounted for 27%, and those in their teens (2,319 patients) accounted for 18%, with these proportions remaining similar over the past nine years. Unlike musculoskeletal diseases such as lumbar disc herniation, which are mainly caused by aging, TMJ patients showed a tendency to gradually decrease from their 30s. By gender, females (64,809 patients) accounted for 59%, and males (45,079 patients) 41%, with female patients being 1.44 times more numerous.

Jung Seong-yeop, Korean Medicine Doctor at Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital.

The reason why younger age groups constitute a large proportion of TMJ patients is analyzed to be because the TMJ has not yet fully developed. Incorrect lifestyle habits formed in the teens and 20s, as well as stress from studies and employment, can also be causes of TMJ disorders. Regarding the higher number of female patients, the research team interpreted based on previous studies that physical characteristics and hormones have an influence. In females, the musculoskeletal system is weaker and more prone to misalignment, and the female hormone estrogen causes pain sensitivity, leading to hyperalgesia.

The research team also analyzed the types of visits for treatment purposes. Examining visit rates, dental treatment accounted for the largest proportion, increasing from 57.72% in 2010 to 77.16% in 2018. Conversely, medical treatment decreased by nearly half from 42.58% in 2010 to 21.02% in 2018. Korean medicine treatment increased from 6.7% in 2010 to 8.26% in 2018.

Treatment methods for TMJ disorders are broadly divided into pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Pharmacological treatments mainly involved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. Among non-pharmacological treatments, physical therapy and acupuncture had high utilization rates, with acupuncture treatment increasing from 6.58% in 2010 to 8.02% in 2018.

Doctor Jeong Seong-yeop said, “This study is significant in that it systematically analyzed the characteristics and treatment patterns of domestic TMJ patients,” adding, “By comprehensively examining the treatment status of TMJ disorders across dentistry, medicine, and Korean medicine, it may help in the future development of treatment guidelines.”

The paper was published in the April issue of the SCI(E)-level journal ‘Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (IF = 3.837).’

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