title: Associations between craniomandibular disorders, sociodemographic factors and self-perceived general and oral health in an adult population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between pain in the craniomandibular region and jaw dysfunction, respectively, to sociodemographic factors and self-perceived general and oral health in a middle-aged and elderly population in Västerbotten County, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred individuals, 35-, 50-, 65- and 75 years old, from inland and 600 individuals from coastal areas were randomly selected in 2002. Of these, 987 individuals completed a questionnaire and 779 participated in a clinical examination. Thirty-five- and 50-year-olds together constituted a middle-aged group and the rest an elderly group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the middle-aged, craniomandibular pain was associated with impaired general health status, signs of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain were associated with female gender and living alone, jaw dysfunction symptoms were associated with university degree and chewing with caution; and signs of TMD dysfunction were associated with female gender and living in the more densely populated coastal region. Among the elderly, craniomandibular pain was more common among those living in the inland region, craniomandibular pain and signs of TMD pain were associated with impaired general health status, jaw dysfunction symptoms were associated with higher education level and self-perceived impaired general health and oral health; and signs of TMD dysfunction were associated with female gender and living in the coastal region. Dental status was not associated with craniomandibular pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic factors and impaired general state of health were related to signs and symptoms indicative of CMD. These factors may influence demand for treatment among the affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yekkalam
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wänman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: elderly; epidemiology; headaches; jaw dysfunction; socioeconomics; temporomandibular disorders