Prevalence of dysfunctional temporomandibular pathology and added jaw pain in periodical occupational medicine consultation at a Private Portuguese Health Services

Abstract

Introduction: The biggest challenge in the area of Temporomandibular Dysfunction and pain is the establishment of a classification system that is internationally valid and reliable. The RDC/TMD [1] is used worldwide allowing to typify populations. Using the RDC/TMD, the aim of the study was to: a) establish prevalence of Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders; b) establish the prevalence of group I, II-A, II B, IIIA, III.b, III.c disorders according with axis I; c) quantify and assess the severity of chronic pain in the population according with axis II; d) compare the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders with the results obtained in other population groups studied.

Materials and methods: After the approval by the ethics committee of Egas Moniz we obtained a sample of 50 individuals who attended an appointment of occupational health at SAMS/PICS company in the region of Greater Lisbon and the South of the Tagus. The individuals were subjected to the RDC/TMD protocol from Dworkin and Leresche, consisting of a questionnaire on the psychological and emotional characteristics. Next, a clinical examination consisting of an examination of the mandibular mobility and of the muscular and articular palpation was made. Data was analyzed using a biaxial system of evaluation. After the analysis of the collected data we divided and classified the individuals in specific subgroups in terms of statistical analysis we have used descriptive statistics and considered significant significant differences when the confidence intervals of the results of the two groups did not overlap (p ≤ 0.05).

Results: With the RDC/TMD protocol - Axis I - it was possible to quantify the number of individuals diagnosed with Temporomandibular Dysfunction: Group I - 14% II.a - 26%, II.b - 0% III.a - 6% III.b - 0% and III.c - 12%, considering a confidence interval of 95%.

Discussion and conclusions: These results are different from many of the published studies but very similar to the very few studies with similar design [2]. The RDC/TMD protocol allowed to know the characteristics of pain and Temporomandibular Dysfunction contributing this way to typify the studied population.