Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of TMJ pain and bone status on the activities of daily living (ADL).

Material and methods: The study included 95 randomly selected participants who were asked to evaluate their influence on daily activities by pain/discomfort in the TMJ. A scale for the influence of TMJ pain/discomfort on the ADL was used. Bone mineral density was measured by using DEXA. The levels of serum type I collagen telopeptide fragments (PINP), C-telopeptide crosslaps of type I collagen (CTX-1) and vitamin D (25(OH)D) was analysed.

The variables were tested for differences between groups with the Mann–Whitney U -test. The significance of the correlations was tested by the Spearman rank correlation coefficient ( r _s ).

Results: Activities of daily living were influenced by TMJ pain/discomfort in all participants at different levels. Pain/discomfort during eating was correlated with CTX-1 ( p = 0.02) and P1NP ( p = 0.04). The differences between sexes were found concerning D (25(OH)D) ( p = 0.02) and most of the activities of daily living.

Conclusion: This study indicates that pain/discomfort from the TMJ is influenced by biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Acknowledgement: The study was supported by the Estonian Science Foundation Grant 0180081s07 and 6591 .