Assessing Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders among University Students: A Questionnaire Study

Aim:

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) among university students.

Objectives:

The etiology of TMD is of multifactorial, and our study is designed to assess the prevalence of TMD in an institution within a university. Various parameters including trauma, malocclusion, stress assessment - its correlation with the timing, the duration of TMD in meeting the deadlines, and examinations have been assessed.

Materials and Methods:

A standard questionnaire-based study with modified Fonseca anamnestic index is used. The questionnaire study was conducted with a statistically calculated sample size of 402 students within a university. The data were analyzed statistically for significance and correlations. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows release 14.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Differences at the 5% level were accepted as being statistically significant.

Results:

TMD and its associated symptoms are frequent among students of health and science studies. Female predominance is seen. There was also an increased prevalence of symptoms in people who described themselves as being tense. The relationship between orthodontic therapy and TMDs were also evaluated, and the duration of therapy is found to be significant. There was a significant association between history of trauma and presence of TMDs.

Conclusions:

TMD and its associated symptoms are frequent among students of health and science studies. A simple anamnestic index is of use in identifying and classifying temporomandibular joint and TMD symptoms in patients according to the severity of the disorder. Females showed a greater prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD than males. Longitudinal studies are recommended to identify and follow-up the prevalence and health-care needs of patients with TMDs.

Longitudinal changes in muscle activity of masseter and anterior temporalis before and after Lefort I osteotomies, An EMG study

AIMS

The aim of this study was to compare the levels of electromyography (EMG) activity of masseter and anterior temporalis present presurgically with changes in the intensity of muscle activity that took place post surgically for a period of 6 months follow up.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Ten patients with vertical maxillary excess were selected from the department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery at Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electromyography was used as a kinesiology tool to study muscle function of Masseter and Anterior Temporalis of all ten subjects pre surgically and post surgically with a 6 month follow up.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

The statistical package SPSSPC+ (Statistical Package for Social Science, Version 4.0.1) was used for statistical analysis. Mean and standard deviation were estimated from the sample. The tests that were used for the statistical analysis were one way ANOVA and student's T test.

RESULTS

The final inference elucidates that the muscular activity of masseter and temporalis are improved during chewing and clenching in the postoperative 6 months period when compared to preoperative values. The duration was constant at 7 milliseconds for both the positions.

CONCLUSIONS

From this study, it can be concluded that there is a strong correlation between vertical maxillary excess and associated weak musculature. Electromyography has been used as an important tool to demonstrate improved muscle activity after surgical correction of vertical maxillary excess and improvement in functional deficits associated with this dentofacial deformity. From this study it can be concluded that surgical correction of vertical maxillary excess improves occlusion, leading to increased eccentric tooth contacts, increased mean amplitude and increased mean power frequency of the muscles all of which translate into improved muscle activity.