title: Symptoms of craniomandibular disorder among elderly people.
abstract: This study investigated the subjective symptoms of craniomandibular disorder and the restriction in maximal mandibular opening of 891 elderly Singaporean citizens. A distribution of 22% of subjects (20% of the women and 26% of the men) reported subjective symptoms of craniomandibular disorders. The most common single symptom reported was occasional to frequent clicking sounds from the temporomandibular joints (in 15% of subjects). The other single symptoms were reported only occasionally in 2-6% of subjects. Nineteen per cent of the subjects had some restriction in maximal interincisal opening (30-39 mm) and about 1% of subjects were severely restricted in maximal opening (less than 30 mm). Subjectively evaluated limitation of wide mandibular opening was recorded for only 2% of the subjects. Background factors included general musculo-skeletal problems (54%), perceived fair to poor general health (29%), headaches (33%), work-related stress (24%), oral parafunctional clenching (4%) and grinding activity (4%). This paper confirms earlier reports that the subjective signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorder tend to diminish in elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, National University of Signapore.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ow
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khoo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012737:Sex Factors; D013016:Sound; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology