A large study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation found that workers with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have significantly higher rates of work productivity and activity impairment, including 31% to 42% greater odds of absenteeism and presenteeism, highlighting TMDs as a critical occupational health concern affecting approximately 30% of the global population.
- Workers with TMDs show 31% to 51% higher odds of work impairment across all productivity indicators compared to those without TMDs.
- TMDs affect approximately 30% of the global population, making it a significant public health concern.
- The study analyzed 18,750 individuals over three years using claims data and online surveys to measure work productivity impact.
- Employers should consider allowing TMD workers time off when necessary and implement preventive policies to reduce occupational burden.
Workers with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may experience impairments in their overall work productivity and ability to perform daily activities, according to a large study recently published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
The results appear to indicate that TMD is a critical occupational health concern, the authors wrote.
“Employers may wish to consider TMD as one of the factors potentially associated with WPAI (work productivity and activity impairment), and allow workers with TMD to take time off work when necessary,” wrote the authors, led by Manami Hoshi-Harada of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry in Miyagi, Japan (J Oral Rehabil, November 4, 2026).
Worldwide, TMDs are prevalent, with an estimated prevalence of about 30%. This frequency shines a light on their importance as a public health concern.
In the past, research has suggested that TMDs and orofacial pain are linked to a reduction in work productivity. Additionally, other studies have revealed that oral problems accounted for up to 27% of absenteeism and up to 50% of presenteeism, which is when individuals still go to work but don’t work at their highest level.
To explore any correlation between TMDs and work productivity and activity impairment, a three-year cohort study was conducted utilizing a claims and survey database for 18,750 individuals. TMD diagnoses were identified using the data while work productivity and activity impairment were measured using an online survey. Logistic regression and generalized linear models were used to analyze the data, according to the study.
After adjusting for all factors, including gender, age, and occupation, workers with TMDs showed greater odds of impairment across all work productivity and activity impairment indicators than those without (odds ratio: absenteeism, 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.80 to 2.13]; presenteeism, 1.34 [CI: 0.97 to 1.85]; overall work impairment, 1.42 [CI: 1.03 to 1.96]; and activity impairment, 1.51 [CI: 1.10 to 2.08]), the authors wrote.
The study had a few limitations. Workers were identified as having TMDs if they received diagnoses during the preceding year or after they participated in this study. Since claims data only captures patients with diagnoses, patients with TMD-related symptoms with no diagnosis weren’t included, they wrote.
“These findings highlight TMD as an occupational health burden for employers and society, warranting preventive efforts and policy awareness,” Hoshi-Harada and colleagues wrote.
