Concerns of patients seeking treatment for TMJ dysfunction

One hundred fifty-seven patients, 126 women and 24 men, 10 to 75 years of age, completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions asking about the patients' chief complaint, treatment received before coming to the clinic, the patients' view of their problem, and who informed them of the possible end result of an untreated "TMJ problem." The results revealed that pain was the most commonly reported complaint (54%), discomfort and headache came second and third (52.2% and 46.5%, respectively). A significant correlation was found between inability to chew and pain, discomfort, tightness in the masticatory muscles, and locking and clicking of the joint. Most patients had received three or more types of treatment before coming to the University of Michigan, TMJ and Oral Facial pain Clinic. A significant correlation was found between an increased number of reported symptoms and an increase in the number of treatments. The most frequently used treatment methods were pain medication, mouth guard (appliances), and occlusal adjustment. Most patients (84.1%) were referred to the TMJ and Oral Facial Pain Clinic by dentists because of clicking, locking, and limitation of movement, with or without pain.