Background & Aims

This study investigates the relationship between COVID-19 and temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Understanding this relationship is particularly critical in the current scenario, where the pandemic continues to influence various aspects of global health, including the prevalence and management of chronic conditions such as TMD.
In this context, bibliometric analysis serves as a powerful tool to synthesize and interpret the vast amount of available literature, allowing the identification of significant patterns, scientific collaborations, and future directions for research. The aim of this study is to analyze global scientific production on COVID-19 and TMD, highlighting emerging trends and possible associations.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using Web of Science Core Collection data from 2020 to 2023. Terms like “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “pandemic”, “TMD”, and “temporomandibular disorders” were used to collect relevant articles. The bibliometric parameters extracted included title, keywords, journal, year of publication, citations, author, institution, country, and references. For the analysis and visualization of bibliometric data in this study, we used two programs: Biblioshiny and VosViewer.

Results

We selected 32 papers involving 132 authors from 70 affiliations across 22 journals. The annual publication growth rate was 14.47%. The articles had 1014 references and 77 ‘Keyword Plus’ keywords, averaging 11.59 citations each. The top journals were Journal of Applied Oral Science (four papers), BMC Oral Health (three papers), and Cranio (three papers). Notable affiliations included Seoul University (seven articles), Tel Aviv University (seven articles), and Wroclaw Medical University (six articles). The study spanned 20 countries, with Brazil, China, and Italy as leaders. The most cited keywords were ‘anxiety’, ‘pain’, and ‘stress’, appearing 13, 13, and 10 times, respectively. The top three thematic axes were ‘anxiety’, ‘stress’, and ‘pain’; ‘prevalence’, ‘TMD’, and ‘depression’; and ‘association’ and ‘bruxism’.

Conclusions

This study significantly enhances understanding of the COVID-19-TMD relationship. The findings underscore the pandemic’s multifaceted impact on global health, particularly in the context of TMD. The diverse range of keywords, such as ‘anxiety’, ‘pain’, and ‘stress’, and the various thematic axes identified, highlight the complex interplay between psychological and physical health factors in TMD during the COVID-19 era. The involvement of numerous countries, with Brazil, China, and Italy leading in research, demonstrates the global relevance of this issue.

References

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Presenting Author

Dayana Jorge Naim Elias

Poster Authors

Dayana Elias

Instituto de Ensino Odontológico (IEO)

Lead Author

Debora Lopes

Instituto de ensino odontológico (IEO)

Lead Author

Caroline Lorenzetti

Instituto de ensino odontológico (IEO)

Lead Author

Rafaela Salbego

Universidade de São Paulo

Lead Author

Paulo Conti

University of São Paulo

Lead Author

Juliana Stuginski-Barbosa

Bauru Orofacial Pain Group

Lead Author

Topics

  • Specific Pain Conditions/Pain in Specific Populations: Orofacial Pain