Prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in an urban and rural German population: results of a population-based Study of Health in Pomerania.

OBJECTIVE: Based on a randomized, population study (Study of Health in Pomerania [SHIP]), the objective of the present study was to determine incidence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adults 20 years or older and to compare the data with TMD prevalence of other exclusively random sample studies that fulfilled criteria similar to those of this study (age > or = 20 years, age range > or = 40 years, sample size > or = 500 subjects, equal gender distribution). METHOD AND MATERIALS: Men and women (n = 7,008) 20 to 79 years of age from mid- and small-sized towns in a rural region in northeast Germany were randomly sampled from resident registry office files. The response rate was 68.8%. Adults between the ages of 20 and 81 years (n = 4,289) were clinically and anamnestically examined. RESULTS: Half of the subjects (49.9%) had one or more clinical signs of TMD, but only 2.7% were subjectively aware of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain symptoms. Women showed higher frequency for all signs and symptoms of TMD than men. However, these differences were not significant for all signs and symptoms in all age groups. The influence of age on TMD signs and symptoms was less pronounced. The prevalence for the following variables found in the present study compared to those of other comparable, random sample studies was: clinical examination; (TMJ) tenderness to palpation (5% versus 2% to 6%); masticatory muscle tenderness (15% versus 19% to 21%); joint sounds (25% versus 15% to 25%); limited maximum mouth opening < 40 mm (9% versus 5% to 8%); pain upon movement of the mandible (1% versus 1% to 3%); irregular jaw movements (deviation, deflection) (28% versus 28%); interview: subjective joint sounds (9% versus 11% to 13%); and subjective TMJ pain (3% versus 4% to 7%). CONCLUSION: The TMD incidence in the current study agreed quite well with the other studies based on random samples with similar subjects and design. The large range of prevalence for signs and symptoms of TMD documented in reviews and meta-analyses could therefore not be confirmed.

Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP): a health survey in an East German region. Objectives and design of the oral health section.

The goal of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) was to estimate the prevalence of diseases, identify potential risk factors in a defined region in northeast Germany, and examine the particular living situation of this population after the reunification of East and West Germany. One of the main concerns of the SHIP design is the analysis of the relationships between dental, medical, social, and environmentally and behaviorally determined health factors. SHIP is a cross-sectional study (clinical findings and sociologic interviews). The sample was drawn in two steps: Thirty-two communities in the region were selected, and within these communities, a simple random sample was drawn from residence registries, stratified by gender and age. The final sample included 4,310 males and females, aged 20 to 79 years. This is equivalent to a participation rate of 68.8%. Data collection was completed in May 2001. The data collection and items comprised four parts: oral health examination, medical examination, health-related interview, and a health- and risk-factor-related questionnaire. The oral health examination included the teeth, periodontium, oral mucosa, morphology and function of the craniomandibular system, and prosthodontics. The medical examination included blood pressure measurements; electrocardiography; echocardiography; carotid, thyroid, and liver ultrasound examinations; neurologic screening; and blood and urine sampling. The computer-assisted interview consisted of questions on symptoms of disease, utilization of medical and dental services, self-assessment of general and oral health, health behavior and knowledge, and socioeconomic variables. The self-administered questionnaire comprised housing conditions, social network, work conditions, subjective well-being, and individual consequences of the German reunification.

Association of malocclusion and functional occlusion with signs of temporomandibular disorders in adults: results of the population-based study of health in Pomerania.

The objective of this study was to determine whether associations exist between occlusal factors and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adults using the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), Germany. A representative sample of 4310 men and women aged 20 to 81 years (response 68.8%) was investigated for TMD signs, malocclusions, functional occlusion factors, and sociodemographic parameters. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic status, was used. The results were compared with other population-based studies identified by a systematic review. Few malocclusions and no factors of functional occlusion except socioeconomic parameters were associated with TMD signs, and these associations were mostly weak. Only bilateral open bite up to three mm appeared to be clinically relevant and was associated with TMD signs (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0). This malocclusion, however, was of rare occurrence, with a prevalence of 0.3% (n = 9), and this finding was not confirmed by other representative studies. Occlusal factors examined in this study explained only a small part of the differences between normal subjects and those with TMD signs. This and other population-based studies indicate that malocclusions and factors of functional occlusion surveyed should be seen as merely cofactors in the sense of one piece of the mosaic in the multifactorial problem of temporomandibular dysfunction. Single occlusal factors that showed significant effects throughout several studies could not be detected. In view of the large number of occlusal variables already investigated, other variables including nonocclusal ones probably also play a role and should be looked at more intensely.

Prevalence of defined symptoms of malocclusion among probands enrolled in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) in the age group from 20 to 49 years.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: SHIP is a complexly structured, population-based cross-sectional study of adults in the German region of Pomerania (age group covered: 20-79 years). Findings in a population subgroup (age group 20-49 years; n = 1777; 53.1% women; 46.9% men) were subjected to orthodontic evaluation. Graduated registration of anterior crowding, overjet, frontal overbite and sagittal intermaxillary relationship of the posterior teeth; registration of ectopic canines, posterior crowding, anterior and posterior crossbite, negative overjet, retroclination of the upper incisors, buccal nonocclusion, and lateral open bite. The prevalence of almost regular dentition and of symptoms of malocclusion as well as the frequency of orthodontic treatment (subjective patient data) undergone by men and women were recorded. The correlation between the registered symptoms of malocclusion was calculated. RESULTS: 92.2% of the subjects had symptoms of malocclusion varying in number and severity. An anatomically correct dentition was found in only 7.8% of cases, and an "almost regular dentition" (inclusion criteria defined) in 14.2%. 32.8% of the subjects had severe malocclusion (inclusion criteria defined). The most frequent symptoms were anterior crowding, increased overjet, and distoclusion. These symptoms were significantly more frequent in women, while spacing and edge-to-edge bite, excessive overbite and mesioclusion were more frequent in men. 26.7% of the probands (28.0% women, 25.3% men) reported having received orthodontic treatment. The prevalence of craniofacial malformations (cleft lip and palate, syndromes) was 0.09% in women and 0.2% in men. Increased overjet was most frequently correlated with other symptoms of malocclusion.

Malocclusions and clinical signs or subjective symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adults. Results of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).

AIM AND METHOD: The objective was to determine with reference to a representative sample of 4310 men and women aged 20 to 81 (response rate 68.8%) drawn from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-0) whether associations exist between malocclusions and temporomandibular dysfunctions in adults. Besides clinically investigated signs, subjectively perceived symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) were studied in each individual together with malocclusions (plus normal occlusion), functional occlusion factors, and sociodemographic parameters. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used, adjusted for age and discriminated for gender. The results were compared with those of other population-based studies identified by a systematic review undertaken by the present authors. RESULTS: Some malocclusions were associated with signs or symptoms of TMD but tended to occur only rarely: unilateral open bite, negative overjet, and unilateral scissors-bite in men, and edge-to-edge bite in women. However, malocclusions (and functional occlusion factors) accounted for only a small part of the differences between the control population and the study population with signs or symptoms of TMD. In terms of the multifactorial problem of temporomandibular disorders they should be seen as cofactors. The results, together with those of other population-based studies, revealed no specific, i.e. recurring malocclusions (or other occlusal factors) presenting as risk markers.