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Smallest detectable difference of maximal mouth opening in patients with painfully restricted temporomandibular joint function
Author(s) -
Kropmans Thomas,
Dijkstra Pieter,
Stegenga Boudewijn,
Stewart Roy,
De Bont Lambert
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0722.2000.00747.x
Subject(s) - temporomandibular joint , medicine , analysis of variance , repeated measures design , mathematics , significant difference , reliability (semiconductor) , orthodontics , dentistry , statistics , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Changes in maximal mouth opening reflect the impact of temporomandibular disorders and the effect of a therapeutic intervention. No information about the amount of change in maximal mouth opening with regard to reasoned decision‐making is available. The smallest detectable difference, as a measure of reliability assessment, provides this information and is expressed in the unit of the measurement instrument. Twenty‐five consecutive patients (5 males, 20 females) with a painfully restricted temporomandibular joint participated in this study. Measurements of maximal mouth opening were performed by two well‐trained observers on two separate measurement days, one week apart. The maximal mouth opening measurements were repeated three times. Inter‐observer, intra‐observer, and test‐retest reliability varied between 0.90 and 0.96. Inconsistency in measurement results analyzed in terms of absolute error variance, i.e. the measurement facets plus all the interactions, represented 11% of total variance. The smallest detectable difference of maximal mouth opening varied from 9 to 6 mm. For being successful in painfully restricted temporomandibular joint patients, statistically as well as clinically, the clinician has to measure at least 9 mm of improvement in maximal mouth opening. To reduce the smallest detectable difference from 9 to 6 mm, repeated measurement is necessary.