Prevalence of patients harboring temporomandibular disorders in an otorhinolaryngology department.
The interaction between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and otalgia is, even nowadays, a reason for speculation and hypotheses raising. Several researchers suggest causes, consequences and alleged treatments.


METHODS
This is an epidemiological, sectional cohort study of prevalence.


OBJECTIVE
The study demonstrates the prevalence of patients harboring TMDs in an otorhinolaryngology department.


METHODS
During a two-month period, 221 patients from the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the Hospital da Cidade de Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil were analyzed. A previously validated questionnaire was applied for data collection.


RESULTS
In the present study, the need for dental assessment was observed in 48 patients ( 21.72%). In this group there were 35 female (72.9%) and 13 males (27.1%). Only 15 patients (7.24%) were entirely free of TMD symptoms. The remaining patients reported the following TMD symptoms: headaches: 34.39%, neck and shoulder pain: 28.50%, pain on the ear region: 30.32% and joint noises in 23.98%.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders was 21.72%, being significantly higher among female subjects (p:0.0001). The prevalence regarding the indexes, was: TMD absent: 37.56%; mild TMD: 40.72%; moderate TMD 19% and severe TMD: 2.72%.
Silveira
Alexandra Magalhães
AM
Centro de Pesquisa São Leopoldo Mandic, 99020-220 Passo Fundo, RS. alexandrasil@terra.com.br
Feltrin
Pedro Paulo
PP
Zanetti
Rachel Virgínia
RV
Mautoni
Mário Cláudio
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*