Comparison of two groups of patients with TMJ-disorder

A total of 49 patients seeking treatment for TMJ-disorders in a district in Northern Norway during a period of 3 months, were described according to social, medical and dental characteristics, amount and type of symptoms, and clinical findings. Data were compared with those obtained from a group of TMJ-patients at the Dental Faculty, University of Oslo. In both materials women were heavily overrepresented. In the group presently studied, the age profile and the amount of reported stressors were higher, and the social class composition somewhat lower, than those in the material obtained at the University. These inequalities should be seen in context with the demographic composition of the two communities. It is anticipated that the main characteristics of the university group are generally valid for patients with TMJ-disorders in Norway.