CLINICAL and Social Demographic Profile of Temporomandibular Disorders Patients

Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common in the adult population and can be a public health problem. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the self-reported symptoms and the related conditions of TMD as well as a social and demographic features analysis of Brazilian adults, referred to TMD Clinic of São Leopoldo Mandic Dental School, Campinas-SP, Brazil, during a period of six years (2003-2008). Methods: Data from 170 questionnaires based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis II were collected and analyzed by Chi-square test. Results: the profile of the population of the study was mostly female (78.85%), with regular menstruation (53.7%), married (51.2%), middle level of education (35.3%), workers of technical level (55.9%) and full time work (38.8%). The great majority (p<0.05) reported headache (73.5%) and bruxism (76.5%). Analgesics (21.8%) were the most used drugs. Stress and other similar emotional factors (p<0.001) were frequently mentioned by subjects, and 36.5% received some psychiatric treatment. Among patients using antidepressants, 100% had headache and 91.7% reported bruxism. Conclusion: The results of this study can help to characterize and manage signs and symptoms of TMD Brazilian patients.