Prevalence of anamnestic symptoms and clinical signs of temporomandibular disorders in adolescents—Results of the epidemiologic LIFE Child Study. (26th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rauch, Angelika; Schierz, Oliver; Körner, Antje; Kiess, Wieland; Hirsch, Christian
• Is Part Of: Journal of oral rehabilitation. Volume 47:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 425
• Page End: 431
• Publication Date: 2019-12-26
• Subjects: adolescent -- children -- gender identity -- oro‐facial pain -- puberty -- sex; Dentistry -- Periodicals; Prosthodontics -- Periodicals; 617
• DOI: 10.1111/joor.12926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-182X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Prevalence values for symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adolescents vary within the literature due to differences in set‐ups of examination protocols. Objectives: The objective was to present prevalence values for symptoms and signs of TMD in German adolescents that were observed within a standardised examination. Prevalence values comparing gender or pubertal status should be investigated. Methods: A cross‐sectional sample of the LIFE Child Study aged 10 to 18 was examined. A questionnaire gathering anamnestic symptoms of TMD was completed, and an examination according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) was performed by trained dentists. Pubertal status according to Tanner stages was documented. Descriptive statistics, Mann‐Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests were performed. Results: A total of 1.116 participants (mean age 12.9 years, 51.4% female) were consecutively recruited. Most prevalent anamnestic symptoms were headaches (55.7%) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds (17.6%). The major clinical sign was TMJ sounds (31.9%). Both the examination of muscles or TMJs showed that pain to palpation was statistically significantly higher than familiar pain ( P < .001). Gender comparisons revealed higher prevalence values and an increase in TMD symptoms and signs during pubertal development in females. Conclusion: The prevalence of self‐reported headaches, as well as anamnestic and clinical TMJ sounds, was high in German adolescents. Prevalence values for pain to palpation and familiar pain obtained relevant differences. Considering the DC/TMD, females are more affected by TMD signs and symptoms that increase during pubertal development, than male adolescents.