[Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and its relations to prosthetic needs]

As part of the programme of the Ministry of Health and Social Care 180 subjects aged 35-44 years living in Cracow, Wieliczka and its environs were studied. They were divided into 6 groups of 30 subjects in each. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction was found in 44.44% of the studied material, it was slightly more frequent in women (47.77%). The frequency was greater in the subjects living in villages. A comparison of the studied groups failed to show any statistical significance of the differences. In the analysis of temporomandibular joint dysfunction in relation to occupation it was revealed that it was most frequent in qualified workers. The need for prosthetic treatment was estimated in subjects with this dysfunction and this need was recognized in 83.75% of these subjects.