title: [An assessment of Helkimo index in 88 orthodontic patients before treatment].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorders(TMJDs) was studied in orthodontic patients before orthodontic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The functional examination of the masticatory system was made with Helkimo index in 88 young patients with general malocclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the dysfunction index, 50 percent of the patients was free of anamnestic dysfunction, and 44.32% and 5.68% of the patients had a mild and a severe anamnestic dysfunction respectively, 32.95 percent of patients was free of clinical dysfunction, and 51.14% and 14.77% of patients had a mild and a moderate clinical dysfunction respectively, only 1.14 percent of patients had a severe clinical dysfunction. The dysfunction of masticatory muscles and sounds of temporomandibular joint were most common in the signs and symptoms of TMJDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no significant differences in the distribution of Ai and Di in different gender and between Angle's Class I and II malocclusion, and there was a relationship between Ai and Di.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Shanghai First People's Hospital.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*