Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in the elderly and its association with palpation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory and cervical muscles as well as the presence of headache and joint noises.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 200 elderly of both genders (mean age: 69.2±5.7 years). The clinical evaluation of TMD signs and symptoms was divided into three stages: an anamnestic questionnaire, a TMJ evaluation, and a muscular examination. The results were analyzed through descriptive statistics as well as using χ2 and the tendency tests.


RESULTS
The presence of TMD was observed in 61% of the sample (mild: 43.5%, moderate: 13%, severe: 4.5%). A significantly greater prevalence of TMD was found for females (72.4%) compared with that for men (41.1%) (p<0.0001). Additionally, a significant association among TMD severity and palpation of the TMJ (p=0.0168), of masticatory muscles (p<0.0001), and of cervical muscles (p<0.0001) was verified. Also, there was a significant association between the frequency of headaches and the presence of TMD (p=0.0001). The association between the presence of joint noises and sensitivity to TMJ palpation was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The elderly presented high TMD prevalence, mostly in females, with mild severity and related to TMJ and masticatory/cervical muscles palpation. Thus, the accomplishment of a detailed clinical examination to investigate the presence of such disorders is essential and it must not be neglected during the treatment of elderly patients.
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
José Gustavo Dala Déa
JG
Camacho
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Paula Vanessa Pedron
PV
Oltramari-Navarro
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Ricardo de Lima
Rde L
Navarro
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Ana Cláudia de Castro Ferreira
AC
Conti
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Marcio Rodrigues de Almeida
MR
Conti
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Luciana Lozza de Moraes
LL
Marchiori
Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Karen Barros Parron
KB
Fernandes
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*