• Mikko A Rantala, Jari Ahlberg, Tuija I Suvinen, Aslak Savolainen, and Mauno Könönen.
• University of Helsinki, Institute of Dentistry, Department of Stomatognathic Physiology and Prosthetic Dentistry, PO Box 41, Fin-00014, Helsinki, Finland. mikko.rantala@helsinki.fi
• J Orofac Pain. 2003 Jan 1; 17 (4): 311-6.

AimsTo apply the Finnish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I to assess the occurrence of symptoms, signs, and specific subgroups of TMD, and to study the associations between the most common diagnoses and categoric demographic characteristics (gender, age group, marital status, type of work).MethodsAll 30- to 55-year-old employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company with at least 5 years at their current employment received postal questionnaires (n = 1784). Of the 1339 respondents (75%), a randomly selected one fifth were clinically examined according to the RDC/TMD Axis I (n = 241, males 48%).ResultsPain symptoms in the face or jaw regions were perceived by 14.9% and pain with 1 or more jaw movements by 9.1%. Diagnoses by the RDC/TMD criteria were: Group I: myofascial pain in 12.9%, myofascial pain with limited opening in 0.4%; Group II: disc displacement with reduction in the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in 9.1% and in the left TMJ in 10.8%; Group III: arthralgia in 0.4% and 0.8%, osteoarthritis in 0% and 0.4%, and osteoarthrosis in 1.2% and 1.2%, respectively, in the right and left TMJs. The most common diagnoses were found more often among women than among men. No TMD diagnosis based on the RDC/TMD was obtained in 73% of the subjects.ConclusionThe RDC/TMD appear to be of benefit in diagnosing TMD among these multiprofessional media personnel and thus may be suggested for use among nonpatient populations.

21 keywords...

hide…