title: Predictive value of the TMJ scale in detecting clinically significant symptoms of temporomandibular disorders.
abstract: It is important for the dentist to differentiate between subclinical and clinically significant symptoms of TMD. The TMJ Scale tests for clinical significance of pain report, palpation pain, perceived malocclusion, joint dysfunction, and range of motion limitation. To evaluate the accuracy of test results in a patient, the predictive values for each scale must be known. The positive and negative predictive values are calculated and found to produce an increase in diagnostic accuracy of the TMJ Scale compared to pre-test predictions throughout most of the base rate range found in clinical practice. The use of predictive values to interpret test results correctly and to confirm or rule out clinically significant symptoms is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Pain Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D005157:Facial Pain; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*