Two-year longitudinal study of symptoms of mandibular dysfunction in adolescents

Symptoms of mandibular dysfunction were followed up longitudinally from the age of 17 to 19 years in 285 adolescents. Totally, 27 subjects dropped out, leaving 258 for the longitudinal intraindividual comparisons. Reports of TMJ sounds increased significantly with age from 14% to 23% for girls, and at 19 years of age they significantly more often reported such sounds than boys. Girls also more frequently reported recurrent headaches (18%) than boys (1-6%). The prevalence of symptoms of mandibular dysfunction was about 20% each year, but there was no general increase of frequency and severity of symptoms during the observation period in spite of an incidence of 8%; new symptoms thus appeared as frequently as old symptoms disappeared. The prevalence of dysfunction was, according to the anamnestic index (Ai), significantly higher for 18- and 19-year-old girls. Girls also significantly more often reported more symptoms than boys, according to an accumulated index (AAi). Most symptoms were of mild character and fluctuated longitudinally. The need and demand for treatment may therefore be considered small. A routine stomatognathic screening is justified to identify those in need of treatment and those who should be observed more closely.