Evaluation of Korean teenagers with temporomandibular joint disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the severity and pattern of symptoms exhibited by teenage Korean temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients.


METHODS
Among patients with an association of TMDs, teenage patients (11-19 years) who answered the questionnaire on the research diagnostic criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) were recruited.


RESULTS
The ratio of patients who visited our clinic with a chief complaint of clicking sound (34.5%) or temporomandibular pain (36.6%) at the initial diagnosis (examination) was the highest. In the evaluation of the depression index, 75.8% of the subjects were normal, 12.9% were moderate, and 11.3% were severe. With regard to non-specific physical symptoms (including pain), 66.5% of the subjects were normal, 17.0% were moderate, and 16.5% were severe. Concerning non-specific physical symptoms (excluding pain), 70.6% of the subjects were normal, 14.4% were moderate, and 15.0% were severe. In terms of the graded chronic pain score, high disability (grade III, IV) was found in 9.3% of the subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Among teenage TMD patients, a portion have clinical symptoms and experience severe psychological pressure; hence requiring attention and treatment, as well as understanding the psychological pressure and appropriate treatments for dysfunction.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Ji-Young
JY
Lee
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Young-Kyun
YK
Kim
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Su-Gwan
SG
Kim
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Pil-Young
PY
Yun
Teenager; Temporomandibular joint disorders