IADR Abstract Archives
Prevalence of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Among Indigenous Population of India
Objectives: Indigenous population of India has distinctive oral health problems wherein primary dental care hardly exists despite having second largest concentration of tribal population in the World. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) among the indigenous population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults (n=198) aged 18 years and above. Adults attending primary health care centre for reasons other than dental, in the tribal hamlet of a town in Kalpetta, India were selected. We used the Axis I and Axis II assessment tools of Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) to screen TMD. The questionnaire validated in the local language was used. The adults with positive response to the Axis I questionnaire, was evaluated with the Axis II questionnaire. Clinical examination was performed by a single examiner calibrated according to DC/TMD. The data was processed using the SPSS and, frequencies and proportion for signs and symptoms of TMD were estimated.
Results: Among 198 adults screened, 23 (11.6%) had TMD. 60.87% of adults aged 31-65 years and predominantly females (86.96%) had one or more symptoms of TMD. Cent percent experienced the pain more than 3 months of duration and among them nearly 90 % had moderate to severe pain intensity. Myofascial pain was the most prevalent type. Moderate anxiety levels were shown in 34.8% of the TMD patients. Equal percentage (40%) of TMD patients had abnormal oral behavior and high physical symptoms. Only 39.13% TMD patients were dentulous, whereas, the others were either partially edentulous (43.48%) or completely edentulous (17.39%).
Conclusions: TMD disorders were present in 11.6% adults, with myofascial pain being the most prevalent type (10.3%). Providence of basic dental care can alleviate onset of TMD in these indigenous population. Relieving such patients from pain also means improvement in quality of their life.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults (n=198) aged 18 years and above. Adults attending primary health care centre for reasons other than dental, in the tribal hamlet of a town in Kalpetta, India were selected. We used the Axis I and Axis II assessment tools of Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) to screen TMD. The questionnaire validated in the local language was used. The adults with positive response to the Axis I questionnaire, was evaluated with the Axis II questionnaire. Clinical examination was performed by a single examiner calibrated according to DC/TMD. The data was processed using the SPSS and, frequencies and proportion for signs and symptoms of TMD were estimated.
Results: Among 198 adults screened, 23 (11.6%) had TMD. 60.87% of adults aged 31-65 years and predominantly females (86.96%) had one or more symptoms of TMD. Cent percent experienced the pain more than 3 months of duration and among them nearly 90 % had moderate to severe pain intensity. Myofascial pain was the most prevalent type. Moderate anxiety levels were shown in 34.8% of the TMD patients. Equal percentage (40%) of TMD patients had abnormal oral behavior and high physical symptoms. Only 39.13% TMD patients were dentulous, whereas, the others were either partially edentulous (43.48%) or completely edentulous (17.39%).
Conclusions: TMD disorders were present in 11.6% adults, with myofascial pain being the most prevalent type (10.3%). Providence of basic dental care can alleviate onset of TMD in these indigenous population. Relieving such patients from pain also means improvement in quality of their life.