Relationship between symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and dental status, general health and psychosomatic factors in two cohorts of 70-year-old subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in two cohorts of 70-year-old subjects examined 8 years apart and analyse the relationship between such symptoms and dental status, general health and various background factors.


METHODS
Two cohorts of 70-year-old subjects, born in 1922 (n = 422) and 1930 (n = 491) respectively, were examined with an interval of 8 years. A TMD symptom index (0-5) was established on answers to five questions related to TMD symptoms.


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences between the two cohorts for prevalence of TMD symptoms and TMD index, neither for headache, neck ache, bruxism and chewing ability. TMJ sounds was the most prevalent symptom, 14%, whereas other TMD symptoms had low prevalence. The distribution of the TMD symptom index showed that 81% reported no symptoms, 15% one symptom, 3% two symptoms and 1% three to five symptoms. Single TMD symptoms and the TMD index exhibited significant associations (p < 0.001) with bruxism, headache, neck pain and several general health and psychosomatic factors, but with dental status only in women. Logistic regression showed that bruxism, neck pain, mouth dryness and a number of psychosomatic factors were associated with the TMD index.


CONCLUSIONS
Besides TMJ sounds (14%), other TMD symptoms were rarely reported by the 70-year-old subjects. The TMD index was significantly associated with bruxism and several general health and psychosomatic complaints but with dental status only in women.
Osterberg
Tor
T
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Dentistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
Carlsson
Gunnar E
GE
D000368:Aged; D002012:Bruxism / Q000150:complications; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications; D009909:Oral Health; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology