The effect of stomatognathic treatment: a clinical follow-up study

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common but complex problems in dentistry. Most patients can be treated using relatively simple methods, such as counselling, splint therapy, and occlusal adjustment. Patients who do not respond to conservative treatment may benefit from surgical treatment. Ninety-two patients (68 women, 24 men, mean age 36 years, range 14-74 years) were treated between 1988 and 1990 in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Stomatognathic Physiology. Sixty-two patients of which 15 were surgically treated, attended for clinical follow-up in 1994. Success of treatment was evaluated using the anamnestic and clinical dysfunction indices of Helkimo. All patients reported that they had benefitted from their treatment. Symptoms of TMD were also noted to be clinically less than before. The results of the study reported show that the effects of stomatognathic treatment are beneficial in long-term, i.e. the patients were subjectively satisfied, and symptoms recorded clinically on follow-up were statistically significantly less than before.