Volume 2 , Issue 1 , June 2015 , Pages 20-23
Shokhan Ahmad Hussein 1 ; Arass Jalal Noori 2 ; Faiq Muhammad Amen 1
1 B.D.S, M.Sc (Oral Medicine). Lecturer at Department of Oral Diagnosis. School of Dentistry - Faculty of Medical Sciences/ University of Sulaimani.
2 B.D.S, M.Sc (Pediatric Dentistry). Lecturer at Department of Pedodontics, Orthodontics and Preventive Dentistry. School of Dentistry - Faculty of Medical Sciences/ University of Sulaimani.
Objectives: The objectives of the present study was to find the number of subjects and distribution, etiology and some associated factors of TMJ problems of patients attending the Oral Diagnosis Clinic at the School of Dentistry/ University of Sulaimani.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study consists of available case-sheet records for patients attended the clinic of Oral Diagnosis of the School of Dentistry at the University of Sulaimani within one academic year (2013-2014) and consisted of 1325 patients aged from 10-79 years; 650 males (49.05%) and 675 females (50.94%).
Results: Out of 53 (0.04%) patients who complained of TMJ problems, 30 patients were males (56.6%) and 23 patients were females (43.4%). The highest numbers of patients seen were from the younger age groups (20-30 years; n= 37, 69.8%). The pain was the most prevalent reported symptom followed by clicking in the joints and more than half of patients reported emotional stress as a causative factor. About one-third of the patients reported that their TMJ problems have affected their functional activities, and also only one-third of the patients reported ear symptoms.
Conclusions: TMD patients require a special kind of attention due the multifactorial nature of the condition and the wide range of clinical manifestations that may be associated with the condition. Furthermore, the impact of the condition on the general health and the quality of life are clearly evident and should not be overlooked by any clinician who encounters such patients.