Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in Ecuadorian Indians

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in indigenous South American Indians. A total of 140 consecutive indigenous Indians (69 Quechua and 71 Colorado) attending a mobile dental health caravan in the Santo Domingo region of Ecuador were examined objectively and subjectively for signs and symptoms of TMD using a method similar to that used in previous studies. There was a prevalence of up to 41% of at least one symptom. The Quechua Indians reported a significantly higher prevalence of difficulty in opening of the mouth and pain in front of the ears than the Colorado Indians. There was a prevalence of up to 63% of at least one sign. The objective findings in the Colorado Indians were similar to those found to be present in a Scandinavian population and an Arab population in previous studies using similar methods. Signs and symptoms of TMD are common in Latin American Indians. Differences occur between different populations in the same geographical area.