Resumo

FERREIRA, Flávio Basílio et al. Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in university students at the State University of Ponta Grossa. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2012, vol.48, n.1, pp. 13-18. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in undergraduate students from the Department of Dentistry at the State University of Ponta Grossa. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty three patients, 17 to 25 years of age, were examined. Undergraduates undegoing orthodontic treatment and those with serious systemic diseases, such as neoplasms, were excluded from the study. A clinical questionnaire composed of health queries and detailed physical exams was used to determine the prevalence and etiologic factors, as well as to obtain the TMD diagnosis. During the physical examination, bidigital palpation and auscultation of the joints, as well as an analysis of mandibular movements and mandibular opening capacity, were performed. Data were analyzed by applying the chi-squared test (χ2) at a significance level of 99% (α=0.01). Results: The results showed that 39% of the undergraduate students presented some category of TMD (p=0.004), given that 73% were women (p<0.001). A percentage of 93% of articular disorders and 7% of muscular disorders could be observed, in which 78% were isolated and 22% were associated (p<0.001). Regardless of gender, the most prevalent articular TMD was the disc displacement with reduction (68%) (p<0.001). Conclusion: From the data analysis, it could be concluded that nearly half of the evaluated patients, most of whom were female, presented some form of TMD. Furthermore, the present study showed that the articular TMD proved to be more prevalent than the muscular TMD.

Palavras-chave : Temporomandibular joint disorders.