Association of temporomandibular disorder and stress in military personnel

Abstract

The objective of this study was to show, through a review of the literature,
the association between occupational stress and temporomandibular
disorder in the military. Nowadays, the high professional competitiveness
in the labor market, especially in the military environment, is marked by
rigorous principles of hierarchyand discipline, strenuous routines, training
and even the possibility of involvement inactivities with risk of death. In
this way, militarism is considered as a stress fuloccupation, which may
make these individuals more susceptible to psychicdisturbances and
harmful physiological problems. The effect of stress on the stomatognathic
system evolves through complex interrelations, resulting in the release
of chemical mediators that may cause an increase in muscle tone,
whichmay secondarily induce changes in the temporomandibular joints,
thus contributing to the development of temporomandibular disorder. In
addition, stress may desensitize structures involved in central nervous system
regulation, contributing toch anges in pain perception of individuals.
Therefore, the available evidence in the scientific literature indicates that
military professionals present high levels of boths tress and temporomandibular
dysfunction, suggesting a positive association between the two pathologies,
however, further studies are needed to define the exactcausal
role of stress on the course and etiology of the dysfunction.