title: Risk factors for signs and symptoms of TMD in a rural adult southeast Tanzanian population.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine some risk factors for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a rural adult population of Southeast Tanzania. Two hundred and eighteen adults aged 40+ years participated in the study. Joint clicking was significantly higher (p < 0.024) in the adults aged 60+ years than in the younger age group. Limited jaw opening was higher in females than males (chi2 = 46.4 on 2 df; p < 0.001), and there was a significant association between the type of toothbrush and limitation in jaw opening (chi2 = 156.6 on 4 df; p < 0.001). The results suggest that the use of miswaki (chewing sticks) and advanced age are risk factors for the high prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD in this rural population. Further studies are recommended to control for other confounding factors such as socio-economic status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P. O. Box 65482, Dares Salaam, Tanzania. ffabian@muchs.ac.tz
authors.forename: Flora M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fabian
authors.forename: Elifuraha G S
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Mumghamba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D032121:Salvadoraceae / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013636:Tanzania; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014716:Vertical Dimension