[Evaluation and classification of dysfunction patients]

The "Stomatognathic-Dysfunction-Index" (SDI) comprises anamnestic and clinical information regarding occlusion, TMJ, head- and neck muscles. The different SDI parameters were chosen in a way that enables them to lead to a firm statement regarding the individual dysfunction. The examination results are easily reproduceable in the sense of a "intra- and inter-examiner reliability" and the scores can be reattributed to individual combinations of symptoms. The patients can be sorted into classes of dysfunction according to their total SDI-Score. This makes the SDI especially suitable for epidemiologic studies, but the easy handling of the SDI allows its use in private practice as well. Here it enables the dentist to classify patients with stomatognathic dysfunctions according to the necessity of treatment and sometimes to determine such necessity as well. The SDI is not meant to replace the extensive standard methods of clinical and instrumental analysis. It is meant to provide a maximum of diagnostic and therapeutic economic value from an affordable input of time in the everyday routine. It fulfills all requirements of an index for epidemiological studies.