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This study evaluates the relationship between sleep quality and both temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among dental students and interns.

March 29, 2026Patient Preference and Adherence0 citationsOpen Access

Sleep Quality and Its Relationship with Temporomandibular Disorders and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Among Dental Students and Interns: A Cross-Sectional Study

NANoof Alsubaie WAWejdan Alshahrani SAShaikha Alabdulkarim

Key Points

This study evaluates the relationship between sleep quality and both temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among dental students and interns.
Cross-sectional study design involving dental students and interns at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University.
Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Fonseca's questionnaire for TMD, and Oral Health Impact Profile.
Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess relationships.
89.3% of participants reported poor sleep quality.
57.2% of the sample had TMD, with varying levels of severity.
Significant positive correlations were found between poor sleep quality, TMD, and reduced OHRQoL.

Abstract

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate sleep quality and its relationship with temporomandibular disorders and oral health-related quality of life among dental students and interns. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on dental students and interns at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Undergraduate male and female dental students and interns voluntarily participated in the study. The participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire for sleep quality, Fonseca’s questionnaire for temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) for oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in addition to demographic data. Pearson’s correlation test and multiple linear regression analysis were performed in the study. Results: The study included 159 participants, with 42.8% males and 57.2% females. Most participants (89.3%) demonstrated poor sleep quality. More than half of the study sample (57.2%) had TMD, with 29.6% having mild TMD, 23.3% having moderate TMD, and 4.4% having severe TMD. Bivariate analysis showed that sleep quality was significantly correlated with TMD (r=0.211, P=0.008) and OHRQoL (r=0.200, P=0.012). In addition, TMD were significantly correlated with OHRQoL (r=0.443, P< 0.001). According to multiple linear regression analysis models, sleep quality was significantly correlated with TMD (P= 0.029) and OHRQoL (P=0.016) after controlling for age, gender, class year, educational levels of parents, and monthly family income. Similarly, regression analysis showed that TMD was significantly correlated with OHRQoL (P< 0.001). Mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect of sleep quality on OHRQoL through TMD (effect = 0.31, 95% CI=0.09, 0.56). Conclusion: The study showed that poor sleep quality was very common among dental students and interns. Sleep quality was significantly correlated with TMD and OHRQoL, and TMD significantly impacted OHRQoL. Keywords: sleep quality, temporomandibular disorders, quality of life

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