Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders discovered incidentally during routine dental examination using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) discovered incidentally during routine dental examination, identify disease patterns, and evaluate patients' attitude toward accepting treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 3009 patients were examined at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates). Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) Axes I and II were used for assessment. Patients with acute/serious dysfunction symptoms underwent cone beam computed tomography examination. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to confirm the diagnosis of disk displacement. RESULTS: Non-self-reported TMD prevalence was 10.8% (n = 325). Among patients with TMDs, women were diagnosed more often (65.85%) (P < .05) and those between ages 25 and 45 years (65.54%) (P < .05). Axis I assessment revealed disk displacement with reduction (group IIa) was the most common (40.92%). Axis II chronic pain grade showed that 32.62% of patients with TMDs experienced chronic pain, whereas 66.77% had mild disability. Interest in pursuing treatment was indicated by 92.31% of patients. Cone beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging assessments changed the primary diagnosis in 26.08% and 18.47% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TMD screening during routine dental examination led to the diagnosis of non-self-reported TMDs, most commonly related to disk displacement with reduction. Radiographic assessment was important to confirm TMD diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with TMD during dental screening expressed interest in pursuing treatment.

Comparative antiplaque and antigingivitis effectiveness of tea tree oil mouthwash and a cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash: A randomized controlled crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the antiplaque and antigingivitis effects of a mouthwash containing tea tree oil (TTO) with a cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized 4 × 4, controlled, cross-over, involving 20 healthy volunteers in a 5-day plaque re-growth model. Test mouthwashes were TTO (Tebodont(®)) and a mouthwash containing CPC 0.05% (Aquafresh(®)). A 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash (Oro-Clense(®)) was used as positive and colored water (placebo [PLB]) as negative controls. Gingival bleeding index (GBI) and plaque index (PI) scores were recorded before and after each test period. Test periods were separated with 2 weeks washout period. RESULTS: All four mouthwashes significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the GBI scores when compared to the baseline GBI scores. There was no significant difference between PLB and active mouthwashes in the GBI scores. CHX and CPC mouthwashes were found more effective in reducing the PI scores than TTO and PLB mouthwashes. There was no significant difference in PI scores of CHX and CPC mouthwashes. CONCLUSION: 0.05% CPC mouthwash can be an alternative to CHX mouthwash since it is alcohol free and found as efficient as CHX in dental plaque reduction with lesser side effects. More studies are needed to test antigingivitis effects of the mouthwashes used in this study, preferably without initial scaling and polishing.