Clinical Characteristics of Temporomandibular Disorders in Patients Admitted to a Dental School Clinic in Turkey

Objectives: This study was undertaken to observe the frequency of different diagnostic groups for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in patients who sought treatment for TMD in an outpatient clinic of a dental school. Methods: Files of patients who received a diagnosis of TMD in a period of 24 months were evaluated. Clinical and demographic data extracted from 213 patient files meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Results: According to the classification of RDC/TMD, 100 patients were diagnosed with myofascial pain and 113 patients were diagnosed with disc displacement. Myofascial pain was the most common diagnosis among women; disc displacement with reduction (DDwR) was the most common diagnosis in men. Self-reported bruxism was reported by 59% of the patients. The amount of maximal mouth opening showed a statistically significant difference among patients with different clinical diagnoses and also between males and females (P<0.05). The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was 4.9&plusmn;2.4 in all diagnostic subgroups, and pain severity was higher in female patients but not significantly (P>0.05). Conclusion: Demographic characteristics of patients with TMD presenting to a dental school clinic in Ankara, Turkey were similar to those reported in the literature. A thorough anamnesis can provide more detailed information about parafunctional activity and sociodemographic factors and enhance accurate diagnosis.