Analysis of functional disturbances of the masticatory system.

Abstract

AbstractThis study analyzed some clinical recordings and diagnoses from the case records of 350 patients referred for functional disturbances of the masticatory system along with data from a questionnaire the patients had answered at their first visit. The dental status varied greatly among the patients. Neither the occlusal index, Oi, nor any of the observations included in Oi. showed a significant correlation with the clinical dysfunction index, Di.The significant correlation that was found between the severity of reported symptoms and Di was best explained by the sign of muscle tenderness on palpation. According to regression analysis, the variation of Di was most strongly influenced by reported pain on movement of the mandible and by tooth clenching.Dividing the patients into subgroups according to symptom patterns and diagnoses gave in general only small mean differences, and there was a wide range of individual variation in all groups for most of the variables. The results of this study verify that ...