Protective masks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Any relationship with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain?

Abstract

Background: Wearing protective face masks has been one of the indispensable measures to prevent droplets and aerosol particles transmission during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Objectives: This observational cross-sectional survey investigated the different types and modalities of protective mask wearing and the possible association with referred signs of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain by respondents.

Methods: An online questionnaire was developed, calibrated and administered anonymously to subjects with an age of ≥18 years. It consisted of different sections: demographics, type and wearing modalities of the protective masks, pain in the preauricular area, noise at the temporomandibular joints and headache. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software STATA.

Results: The questionnaire received 665 replies mainly from participants aged between 18 and 30 years (315 males and 350 females). The healthcare professionals were 37% of participants, 21.2% of them were dentists. The Filtering Facepiece 2 or 3 (FFP2/FFP3) mask was used by 334 subjects (50.3%), and 578 (87%) wore the mask with two elastics behind the ears. Pain while wearing the mask was referred by 400 participants, and 36.8% of them referred pain with a consecutive use of more than 4 h (p = .042). 92.2% of participants did not report any preauricular noise. Headache associated with the FFP2/FFP3 was referred by 57.7% of subjects (p = .033).

Conclusion: This survey highlighted the increased referred the presence of discomfort in the preauricular area and headache possibly associated with a prolonged use of protective face masks for more than 4 h during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Keywords: FFP2/FFP3; SARS-CoV-2; oro-facial pain; protective face masks; temporomandibular disorders.