Signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders in a series of Finnish children

Abstract

The prevalences of subjective symptoms and clinical signs of craniomandibular (CM) disorders, orofacial parafunctions, and occlusal conditions were determined in a series of Finnish children (n = 166). All were first interviewed, and then 156 of them were examined clinically. Fifty-two per cent of the children reported at least one subjective symptom, and 75% at least one parafunctional habit. Clinical signs were common but rarely severe in accordance with Helkimo's clinical dysfunction index (Di). Both the number of subjective symptoms (p < 0.001) and the number of orofacial parafunctions (p < 0.05) correlated with the clinical dysfunction index.