Treatment of temporomandibular disorders - knowledge, attitudes and clinical experience among general practising dentists in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the self-perceived level of knowledge, attitudes and clinical experience in treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among general practising dentists (GPDs).


METHODS
A web-based questionnaire was sent to all GPDs in the public dental health service in the County of Uppsala in 2010 (n = 128) and 2014 (n = 113). The GPDs were asked to answer questions in the following categories: Demographic information, Quality assurance, Clinical experience and treatment, Need for specialist resources in the field of TMD and Attitudes. Between the two questionnaires, the GPDs were offered TMD education and an examination template including three TMD questions was introduced in the computer case files. The results were also compared with a previous questionnaire from 2001.


RESULTS
The response rate was 71% (2010) and 73% (2014). The majority of the GPDs were women (70% in 2010 and 72% in 2014). The reported frequency of taking a case history of facial pain and headache increased between 2010 and 2014. In 2014, the GPDs were more secure and reported higher frequency of good clinical routines in treatment with jaw exercises and pharmacological intervention compared to 2001. Interocclusal appliance was the treatment with which most dentists felt confident and reported good clinical routines.


CONCLUSIONS
The GPDs felt more insecure concerning TMD diagnostics, therapy decisions and treatment in children/adolescents compared to adults. There is a high need for orofacial pain/TMD specialists and a majority of the GPDs wants the specialists to offer continuing education in TMD.
a Department of Stomatognathic Physiology , Public Dental Health Service , Uppsala , Sweden ;|b Department of Dental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet, Scandinavian Center for Orofacial Neuroscience (SCON) , Huddinge , Sweden ;
Erik
E
Lindfors
c Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Odontology , Malmö University , Malmö , Sweden ;|d Clinical Centre of Research , Uppsala University , Västerås , Sweden ;|e Postgraduate Education Dental Center , Örebro , Sweden ;
Åke
Å
Tegelberg
f School of Health and Welfare , Jönköping University , Jönköping , Sweden.
Tomas
T
Magnusson
b Department of Dental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet, Scandinavian Center for Orofacial Neuroscience (SCON) , Huddinge , Sweden ;
Malin
M
Ernberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
Dentistry; jaw exercises; occlusal splint; orofacial pain; postgraduate education