title: Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in adolescents.
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adolescents and its relationship to gender. The sample comprised 217 subjects, aged 12 to 18. The subjective symptoms and clinical signs of TMD were evaluated, using, respectively, a self-report questionnaire and the Craniomandibular Index, which has 2 subscales; the Dysfunction Index and the Palpation Index. The results of muscle tenderness showed great variability (0.9-32.25%). In relation to the temporomandibular joint, tenderness of the superior, dorsal and lateral condyle regions occurred in 10.6%, 10.6% and 7.83%, respectively, of the sample. Joint sound during opening was present in 19.8% of the sample and during closing in 14.7%. The most prevalent symptoms were joint sounds (26.72%) and headache (21.65%). There was no statistical difference between genders (p > 0.05), except for the tenderness of the lateral pterygoid muscles, which presented more prevalence in girls. In conclusion, clinical signs and symptoms of TMD can occur in adolescents; however, gender influence was not perceived.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas.
authors.forename: Leonardo Rigoldi
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bonjardim
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz Duarte
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gavião
authors.forename: Luciano José
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Paula Midori
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Castelo
authors.forename: Renata Cunha Matheus Rodrigues
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002012:Bruxism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013016:Sound; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*