Epidemiology and sociodemographic determinants of chronic temporomandibular disorders in South Korea: a nationwide population-based study

Abstract

BackgroundTo investigate the epidemiological prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in South Korea using a standardized case definition from national healthcare data, with emphasis on age, sex, socioeconomic status, and residential distribution.MethodsData from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (2006 to 2019) were analyzed. Patients aged >= 20 years with three or more TMD-related visits (K07.6) were classified as chronic TMD. Sociodemographic factors included age, sex, income quintiles, and residential region. Treatment modalities were evaluated through associated diagnostic, medication, and procedural codes.ResultsStandardized prevalence of chronic TMD increased from 6.28 per 10,000 in 2010 to 12.09 in 2016, stabilizing at 9.53 in 2019. Female predominance was observed (66%), though the female-to-male ratio decreased from 2.37 to 1.68 over the study period. The highest prevalence occurred in the 20-29 year cohort (0.21%), with higher rates among high-income groups. Additionally, 49.3% of cases were concentrated in metropolitan areas. Pharmacotherapy represented the predominant intervention (95.92%), while invasive procedures such as arthrocentesis (1.07%) and TMJ surgery (0.63%) were infrequently employed.ConclusionsThis comprehensive analysis reveals distinct sociodemographic gradients and treatment preferences, providing valuable insights for healthcare planning, and highlighting the need for further research on TMD's relationship with socioeconomic factors.