Global prevalence of orofacial pain associated with myofascial, temporomandibular joint, cranial nerve, and dentoalveolar disorders: A meta-analysis.

Background

Orofacial pain, particularly when chronic and unrelated to dental pathology, presents a considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. To address these issues, the International Classification of Orofacial Pain (ICOP), the first comprehensive international classification of orofacial pain, was published in 2020.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the global prevalence of orofacial pain of different origin in accordance with the ICOP classification. MATERIAL AND

Methods

A systematic search of MEDLINE and Scopus was conducted for observational studies published between 2004 and 2024. Although data were initially intended to be classified according to the ICOP categories, the available studies did not permit the direct application of this classification.

Results

The pooled prevalence estimates were as follows: myofascial orofacial pain - 20.60% (95% CI: 9.71-38.50; 5 studies, 3,395 observations); myofascial pain combined with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain - 11.95% (95% CI: 8.85-15.96; 31 studies, 522,056 observations); TMJ pain alone - 9.51% (95% CI: 6.01-14.73; 13 studies, 21,407 observations); orofacial pain attributed to dentoalveolar and related structures - 27.46% (95% CI: 22.83-32.63; 66 studies, 548,782 observations); and orofacial pain due to cranial nerve lesions or diseases - 7.98% (95% CI: 3.28-18.18; 2 studies, 9,735 observations).

Conclusions

In the global population, the prevalence of myofascial orofacial pain is estimated at 21%. The prevalence of myofascial orofacial pain combined with TMJ pain is reported to be 12%. The prevalence of TMJ pain alone is estimated at 10%. The prevalence of orofacial pain attributed to the disorders of dentoalveolar and anatomically related structures is 27%. The prevalence of orofacial pain attributed to the lesions or diseases of the cranial nerves is 8%. The findings of this study should be interpreted with caution due to the substantial methodological heterogeneity observed across the included studies. This variability underscores the importance of establishing standardized criteria and reporting guidelines for orofacial pain in scientific research.