The objective of this study was to verify the association between socio-economic class and stress in temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). The population of this study consisted of a statistically significant sample of 354 subjects of both genders ranging in different socio-economic classes of the urban area of the municipality of Piacatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Toward that end, the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria was used for the economic stratification of the population. A sample of each extract was taken, and then Fonseca's Questionnaire was applied to verify the level of TMD, and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) was used to verify stress level. The data collected were tabulated by Epi-Info 2000, v. 3.2 and statistically analyzed through the Chi-square Test, with a level of significance of 5%. The heads of households of the families were distributed as follows: 4 belonging to "Class A2", 14 to "Class B1", 25 to "Class B2", 112 to "Class C", 174 to "Class D", and 25 to "Class E". After the statistical analysis, no statistically significant association was observed between economic class and TMD. However, this type of relationship was verified between stress and TMD (p<0.01). The economic class does not influence in the occurrence of TMD, but there is an association between stress and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Temporomandibular joint; Social class; Stress
