EVALUATE OF THE PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF SYMPTOMS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION (TMJD).

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and severity of TMJD and distribution of associated symptoms with respect to gender and age among the patients visiting Dental Clinic of a Rural Health Centre (RHC). Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Dental Clinic of Rural Health Centre (RHC) Nasirabad, District Kambar Shadadkot, Sindh, Pakistan. Period: December 2018 to May 2019. Material & Method: The study sample comprises of total 132 patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fonseca’s questionnaire and Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index are employed to assess the subjective response and severity of TMJD symptoms respectively vis-a-vis age and gender of patients. Data collected from patients is entered in SPSS ® version 16.0 for statistical analysis. Results: The results are arranged and statistically evaluated. Overall 43% answered positive to questions with respect to symptoms. Majority of patients reported positive for neck pain or stiff neck (15%) and muscular fatigue while chewing (15%). 50 % of patients suffering from TMJD symptoms belong to Age Group 1 (15 – 35 years). 94.3 % female patients suffer from some degree of TMJD. Based on Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index of severity, 65.9% of patients have Mild TMJD symptoms, 18.9% with Moderate severity and 1.5% with severe symptoms of TMJD. Conclusion: This study concludes that TMJD are more common in females with age group of 15 – 35 years of age. The most prevalent symptom is muscular pain / tiredness of jaws during chewing and stiffness of neck. In this study sample, majority of patients suffer from Mild TMJD symptoms.