Temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms and signs in a 7-25 and more years-old population. Matanzas municipality

Abstract

We carried out a descriptive, transversal study of the predominant symptoms and signs in a population suffering temporomandibular dysfunction. The sample was obtained on the basis of a probabilistic and multistage scheme and there were chosen 1 860 subjects aged 7 to 25 and more from different level schools of Matanzas municipality, that were grouped by age and sex. The K. Paulsen's Test for the analysis of the temporomandibular function was applied to all of them. The signs and symptoms were studied in those diagnosed with Dysfunction. More than 50 % of them presented: First contact position different from the maximum intercuspal position (60.00 %), Irregularity in opening and closing movements (53.05 %), and Noises (50.27 %). The symptoms and signs increased their values as age increased, especially in temporomandibular and dental tests. There were not found significant differences between sexes. We emphasize the necessity on an adequate preparation of the professionals in the early diagnosis of craniamandibular disturbances.