[Epidemiology of myoarthropathy. A longitudinal study over 5 years]

A total of 1440 patients with the diagnosis "mandibular joint complaints" were referred to the Out-Patient Clinic for Dental Prosthetics between 1974 and the first half of 1979. A clinical functional analysis (Krogh-Poulsen) was used to examine 1114 of these patients. The number of women patients (73%) was impressively high. The myoarthropathies appeared most frequently between the twentieth and the fortieth year of life. Complaints had been present for at least one year prior to referral in 44% of the patients. Tenderness of the pterygoideus muscle at clinical examination was observed most frequently. Treatment with a biteplate brought relief from complaints in 82% of the patients.