Prevalence Of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Amongst South Indian Dental School Graduates

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) comprises of a range of conditions with varied etiology such as trauma, occlusal disturbances, muscular hyperactivity and stress. TMDs had become more prevalent in young population due to food habits, excessive stress of modern life, and other environmental causes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of TMDs among dental students in a South Indian population. A questionnaire was given to the participants of age range of 18-24 years and studied on the basis of signs and symptoms based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD).

RESULTS: 75.9% of students had no pain and 24.1% had pain.  Some of the students complained of pain in the only in the right side (40) or left side (32) and some complained of pain both in the right and left side (28). The type of pain was also taken into consideration.

CONCLUSION:  In conclusion, the current study found most of the college students do not have TMDs and even the students who presented with pain was mostly as a consequence of stress