Association between TMJ dysfunction and sick leaves.
Presence of clinically diagnosed TMJ dysfunction and the length of sick leaves were significantly associated in a sample of 599 male Finnish shipyard workers. Neglect of dental health care did not seem to be an explanatory factor, because the amount of untreated caries and the regularity of dental care did not differ significantly between the orthofunction and dysfunction groups. Although the association is no proof for a causal relationship, TMJ dysfunction may explain at least a part of the increase in days on sick leave, because dysfunction was found to be common and at best symptomatically treated in the population studied.
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009782:Occupational Dentistry; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors