Incidence of Temporomandibular Disorders in Patients in a University Hospital Setting

Abstract

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain disorders. TMD is defined as a heterogeneous group of psychological disorders, commonly characterized by orofacial pain, difficulty in chewing or both. It is one of the commonest problems affecting common people. This is also one of the most common undiagnosed disorder due to its varied vague signs and symptoms, which makes the common dentist to diagnose wrongly, which ultimately led to wrong treatment. The etiology of temporomandibular disorders is complex, the foremost normally cited factors are emotional tension, occlusal interference, genetics, teeth loss, postural deviation, masticatory dysfunction, internal and external changes in TMJ structure, either alone or both The disorders of TMJ, masticatory muscles and associated structure sometimes occur throughout childhood and adolescence, however with less intensity than in the adult population. Throughout adolescence, TMJ presents with mild or moderate signs and symptoms. So a study of this disorder is needed to create awareness among general dentist. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of temporomandibular disorders in patients reported to Saveetha Dental College. A total of 77 patients who underwent treatment for TMD were included in this study. From the analysis, females were more prevalent than the male population. The most common treatment undergone by patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders is pharmacotherapy.  Females are shown more prevalent than Male. A detailed examination should be done for better diagnosis and prognosis.