Temporomandibular joint vibration analysis in a sample of non-patients

In a sample of 20 non-patients, 60% of the subjects had an absence of subjective temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complaints (noises/sounds) that agreed with objective joint vibration analyses (electrovibratography). Among the remaining 40% of subjects, only 50% of the examined joints showed agreement between subjective and objective findings. Subjects appeared to be unable to reliably detect "weak" (early) symptoms of TMJ dysfunction but were able to reliably detect "strong" (late) symptoms of TMJ dysfunction and possibly disease. As measured through active protrusion and laterotrusion of the mandible, the guidance angles of the anterior teeth could not explain the absence and presence of TMJ vibrations.