Patients referred to a specialist clinic because of suspected temporomandibular disorders: a survey of 3194 patients in respect of diagnoses, treatments, and treatment outcome

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Most patients responded quickly with conservative treatment methods.

Main

Anastassaki A, Magnusson T Acta Odontol Scand 2004; 62: 183–192

While most patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) respond to some treatment, a variety of different treatments may be effective. Over an 8 yr period, 3194 patients (3/4 female) referred to a Swedish clinic were examined. Those with rare diagnoses, or without one according to ICD-9, were excluded (473), and in the remaining 2721, 4464 diagnoses were recorded.

Disc displacement was recorded in 29%, tension headache in 19%, myo-arthralgia in 18%, arthritis in 14%, myalgia in 11%, osteoarthrosis in 10%, nonspecific orofacial pain in 6% and rheumatoid arthritis in 4%. Therapeutic jaw exercises were prescribed for 75%, and interocclusal appliances for 56%. Women had greater severity of symptoms, and responded better to treatment than men. Regression analysis gave significant odds ratios for favourable outcome with 3 diagnoses: disc displacement without reduction, arthritis and myalgia; non-specific orofacial pain gave a poorer outcome.