Attitude and awareness of temporomandibular joint disorders among general dental practitioners in Southern India

Aim: To evaluate the awareness of diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) among general dental practitioners and to understand their attitude toward the relevance of these disorders. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire containing 17 questions regarding etiology, signs and symptoms, investigations and management of temporomandibular joint disorders and about the relevance of managing the same in routine clinical practice was answered by 100 general dental practitioners in Southern India. The results obtained were tabulated and were analyzed using non-parametric Spearman’s rank correlation and Pearson (parametric) correlations. Results: Our study found that while clinicians were well versed with the etiologic factors responsible for TMD and their diagnosis, the domain of management of TMD was an area that needed improvement. Conclusion: General dental practitioners could benefit from education programs aimed at highlighting the management aspect of TMD.