Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pose a serious health problem that can have a negative effect on patients' lives, impair work performance, and result in work absences and restrictions in daily activities. The aim of this observational, cross-sectional study was to evaluate the level of satisfaction with life among Polish patients with TMD and to assess the influence of pain severity on this parameter. A secondary goal was to investigate sleep quality within this patient group and explore its relationship with pain. A total of 219 patients from the Outpatient Clinic for Temporomandibular Disorders at the University Dental Polyclinic in Wroclaw, Poland, participated in this study. These individuals underwent a clinical examination using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) protocol and completed 2 validated questionnaires, namely the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Furthermore, the patients were assessed for the severity of masseter muscle pain (MMP) and temporal muscle pain (TMP), and the average pain in these muscles (AMP) was calculated. Subsequently, a statistical analysis was performed on the collected data. The group of patients with average satisfaction with life exhibited significantly higher levels of MMP (p = 0.025) and AMP (p = 0.044) as compared to the high-satisfaction group. Regarding sleep quality, 50.23% of the patients experienced poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was found to be statistically associated with higher levels of TMP (p = 0.032) and AMP (p = 0.028). Moreover, women demonstrated significantly worse sleep quality as compared to men (p = 0.002). The findings indicate that PSQI has a greater impact on SWLS than vice versa. Due to a large number of TMD patients experiencing poor sleep quality and the associated reduced life satisfaction, these parameters should be considered as influential factors that modify the management of patients with TMD.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has brought much innovation to medicine and has been successfully adopted in many areas of dentistry. Although 3D printing techniques are being increasingly used, their advantages and disadvantages still need to be investigated, particularly with regard to the materials used in dentistry. Dental materials should be biocompatible and non-cytotoxic, and have sufficient mechanical integrity in the oral environment in which they are intended for use. The present work aimed to identify and compare the mechanical properties of three 3D-printable resins. The materials included IBT Resin, BioMed Amber Resin and Dental LT Clear Resin. The Formlabs Form 2 printer was used. A tensile strength test was performed on 10 specimens of each resin. Tensile modulus was measured on 2-millimeter-thick dumbbell-shaped specimens, 75 mm in length and 10 mm in width. The 10 specimens of each resin were mounted between the grips of a universal testing machine (Z10-X700). The results showed that BioMed Amber specimens cracked easily, yet no deformation was observed. The amount of force used to test the tensility of the specimens was the lowest for IBT Resin, while it was the highest for Dental LT Clear Resin. IBT Resin was the weakest material, whereas Dental Clear LT Resin was the strongest.

The study aimed to evaluate masseter muscle stiffness in adult healthy volunteers referred to a massage treatment and also to investigate whether shear-wave elastography can be used to monitor the effect of massage on the masseter muscle. The study included 21 healthy volunteers, who were subjected to a 30-minute massage of the masseter muscle. Muscle stiffness was measured by shear-wave elastography before and directly after the massage. Pain during the massage was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The data of 20 patients (one excluded due to severe pain) with a median age of 34.5 years were analysed. The stiffness values were 11.46 ± 1.55 kPa before and 8.97 ± 0.96 kPa after the massage ( ). The mean drop was 2.49 ± 1.09 kPa. The greatest decrease was observed in people with higher elasticity values before the massage (r = 0.79; ). The median intensity of pain was 7.2 (range: 6–9.5). We concluded that shear-wave elastography is a sensitive tool to monitor changes in the stiffness of the masseter muscle.

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common causes of orofacial pain, but their clinical course varies, with some patients developing persistent symptoms. Evidence supports a biopsychosocial model of pain chronification, yet prognostic factors for pain persistence in TMD remain insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review aimed to identify biological, psychological, and social predictors associated with pain persistence and chronicity in painful TMD. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261286566). MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between January 2010 and December 2025. Eligible studies included adult patients with painful TMD and assessed baseline biopsychosocial predictors of pain persistence or chronicity at follow-up ≥ 3 months. Risk of bias was assessed using QUIPS and PROBAST. Due to heterogeneity across studies, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Six prospective cohort studies were included, with follow-up durations ranging from 6 to 24 months. Psychological factors, particularly pain catastrophizing and depression, were associated with increased risk of pain persistence. Higher baseline pain intensity and widespread pain also showed prognostic value. Sleep-related and behavioral factors demonstrated inconsistent associations, and social predictors were rarely examined. The certainty of evidence ranged from moderate for catastrophizing and pain intensity to very low for sleep-related and occlusal factors. Conclusions: Pain persistence in TMD is influenced by multiple biopsychosocial factors. Psychological variables, especially catastrophizing and depression, appear to be the most consistent predictors, although this finding should be interpreted with caution, given the small number of included studies. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment in patients with painful TMD and the need for further longitudinal research.

Background: Individuals with maxillofacial deformities are concerned not only with their facial appearance but also experience dysfunctions of the stomatognathic system, including mastication, swallowing, speech, and breathing. These impairments may lead to negative psychological responses and a reduced quality of life. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and analyse reported dysfunctions of the stomatognathic system in orthognathic patients prior to surgical intervention. Material and methods: The study group (SG) comprised 63 patients with maxillofacial deformities scheduled for orthognathic surgery. The control group (CG) consisted of 70 patients with malocclusions undergoing orthodontic treatment who did not meet the criteria for surgical intervention. Quality of life was assessed in all participants using the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), along with a self-reported questionnaire evaluating the presence of stomatognathic system dysfunctions (SS). Results: Significant differences were observed between the study groups regarding all quality-of-life indicators for orthodontic and orthognathic patients. Patients in the SG more frequently reported difficulties in the specified stomatognathic system functions compared to those in the CG. No statistically significant differences were found between SG patients with Class II and Class III malocclusions in terms of OQLQ scores or the frequency of reported SS dysfunctions. Regarding sex differences, women reported a lower overall quality of life and scored lower in social dimensions related to facial deformity and aesthetics compared to men. No significant correlations were observed between the age of orthognathic patients and quality-of-life assessment. Conclusions 1. Orthognathic patients exhibit a poorer quality of life and a higher prevalence of stomatognathic system dysfunctions compared to patients with malocclusions who do not require surgery. The type of skeletal deformity in surgical patients does not influence quality of life or the frequency of stomatognathic dysfunctions. 2. Unlike age, the patient’s sex is a significant factor in the quality of life before orthognathic surgery.

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a heterogeneous group of musculoskeletal conditions affecting the temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles. In recent years, autogenous injections have been investigated as minimally invasive therapeutic options to alleviate pain and improve function. However, the clinical effectiveness of such therapies across different TMD phenotypes remains uncertain. Methods: Electronic searches were performed in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science for articles published between January 2015 and May 2025. Studies involving intra-articular or intra-muscular autogenous injections in TMD patients were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Six were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and seven were non-randomized clinical studies. Ten studies evaluated intra-articular conditions such as disc displacement or Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis, while three focused on myofascial pain. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) was the most frequently investigated agent. Most studies reported statistically significant reductions in pain and improvements in mandibular mobility following autogenous injections, with PRP generally outperforming comparators such as hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids, or saline. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: All PRP and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) injection protocols reviewed were effective in reducing pain and improving mobility in patients with TMD. However, differences in protocols and follow-up times prevented a meta-analysis from being conducted. More standardized RCTs are needed to determine clear clinical guidelines.