Comparison of subjective symptoms among three diagnostic subgroups of adolescents with temporomandibular disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To compare subjective symptoms among three diagnostic subgroups of young patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).


METHODS
We comprehensively examined 121 patients with TMDs (age ≤20 years; 90 female patients and 31 male patients) who completed self-reported forms for assessing subjective symptoms, which consisted of five items on pain intensity in the orofacial region and six items on the level of difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) (rating scale, 0-10). They were divided into three diagnostic subgroups: temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problem (JT) group, masticatory muscle pain (MM) group, and the group with a combination of TMJ problems and masticatory muscle pain (JM group). Their symptoms were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests.


RESULTS
The intensity of jaw or face tightness and difficulty in talking and yawning were not significantly different among the groups. However, the MM and JM groups had a significantly higher rating for jaw or face pain, headache, neck pain, tooth pain, and difficulty in eating soft foods (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Young patients with MM or JM report more intense pain in the orofacial region and have more difficulties in ADL than those with JT problems alone.
Karibe
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Life Dentistry, Nippon Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. h-karibe@tky.ndu.ac.jp
Goddard
Greg
G
Kawakami
Tomomi
T
Aoyagi
Kyoko
K
Rudd
Patricia
P
McNeill
Charles
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult