Response to an offer of consultation concerning TMJ-disorder

Based on the assumption that there is a correlation between myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD), headache and/or back pain, this study intended to assess the occurrence of MPD among persons reporting pain in their head or back. Another main purpose was to measure the response to an offer of free examination of teeth and jaws and, if needed, also free treatment of TMJ-disorder. In an electrotechnical company comprising 698 employees, a total of 27 persons attended for examination after the offer had been presented to two groups selected by two different sampling methods. Of the attendants, women, middle-aged persons, and persons from the upper social strata were overrepresented. These same categories were also the most likely to report headache and/or back pain. Ten individuals out of the 27 attendants claimed to have experienced some TMJ-disorder, and these indivuduals tended also to complain about headache and back pain. A major finding was that the response to the offer was clearly affected by social background. The response pattern was much like that known about the seeking of treatment for MPD-- and for dental treatment generally.