Craniomandibular Pain, Bite Force, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Jaw Resection

The present study evaluated the connection between temporomandibular disorders (TMD), maximum voluntary bite force and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with oral cancer. Twenty-six prosthetically rehabilitated patients with partial resection of the upper and/or lower jaw with segmental mandibulectomy, with and without reconstruction, were examined. The examination comprised the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD), determination of the individual pain threshold, evaluation of the maximum voluntary bite force, and OHRQoL according to the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire. Male pain thresholds were significantly higher than female pain thresholds (P = 0.003). Patients with maxillary resection showed higher pain threshold values than patients with (segmental) mandibulectomy. Bite force was significantly (P = 0.000014) lower in resected jaw areas than in healthy ones. Patients with resections of the maxilla showed higher voluntary bite forces than patients with resections of the mandible; males showed higher bite forces than females. The prevalence of negative responses (“often”—2 and “very often”—1) on the OHIP items was 10.39%, whereas the prevalence of positive responses (“from time to time”—3, “seldom”—4, and “never”—5) was 89.60%. The prevalence for negative responses was 2.46% in male patients and 8.07% in female patients. Patients with resections in the maxilla suffered from negative responses of 3.92%, patients with resection of the mandible of 6.64%. According to the OHIP, the psychological disposition of these patients clearly referred to coping mechanisms.