Background: Psychological stress is considered a possible pathogenic factor for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), but few reports have supplied direct evidence. This study was designed to observe the effects of psychological stress on the TMJ structures.
Materials and Methods: A well-established rat communication box model were used to induce a psychological stress in rats (PS group). The control group was not subjected to psychological insult. After one month, the rats were euthanized and TMJ specimens were harvested to perform a histological analysis under light microscope.
Results: Light microscopy showed apparent pathological changes in the TMJs of psychologically stressed rats.
Conclusion: These results indicate that psychological stress is able to induce pathologic alterations in the TMJ structures and plays an important role in TMD.