The relationship of TMJ dysfunction to pulse volume rate of the superficial temporal artery.

AbstractPlethysmographic measurements were investigated for possible use in the diagnosis of TMJ dysfunction. Superficial temporal artery pulse volume rates were made in a group of subjects diagnosed as having TMJ dysfunction and in a group of normal subjects. Bilateral plethysmographs were taken of five mandibular positions per subject. The graphs of the TMJ symptomatic group and of the normal asymptomatic group were evaluated by three non-dentists. The results indicated that the evaluators were able to separate the two groups with high reliability based solely on the readings of the vascular graphs. A Chi-Square analysis of the results revealed a level of statistical significance beyond .01.